Chartered by The Congress of the United States of America AMVETS ★ DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN VOLUME 26 ISSUE 1 – FALL 2014

AMVETS DEPARTMENT ELECTS NEW COMMANDER, LADIES AUXILIARY PRESIDENT and WHITE CLOVER PRINCESS 2014-2015

Commander President White Clover Princess Mark Reiling Robin Sterletske Kylie Morris

Inside This Issue 2013-2014 Officers & Reports...... 6 AT EASE Program ...... 17 National News ...... 6-8 Department Officers...... 18-19 State News ...... 8-9 Women Who Served...... 21 Ladies Auxiliary News...... 10-11 Candid Convention ...... 22-23 White Clover Princess...... 12 Hollywood Veterans...... 25 Post News...... 13-17 More Convention Photos...... 28 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE COUNTY HAVE YOU WAR MEMORIAL PAID YOUR MOVING? CENTER, INC. LET US KNOW “TO HONOR THE DEAD BY DUES? EIGHT WEEKS SERVING THE LIVING” BEFORE YOU MOVE We acknowledge the continuing support of Milwaukee County in making this facility Mail to: available under the auspices of the AMVETS War Memorial Corporation. Department of Wisconsin Attach your address/label 750 North Lincoln Memorial Drive from current issue here Milwaukee, WI 53202

*A National minimum amount that may vary from state to state or Post to Post. New Address: Yes! Enclosed is my $20.00* annual mem­ Name______bership dues for AMVETS. I certify that I have met the minimum membership require­ Address______ments – that I have served actively and honorably (since September 15, 1940) or am City______currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves. State ______750 North Lincoln Memorial Drive Milwaukee, WI 53202 Name______Zip______M ______F______Hold Your Next Veteran or Family Event Then fill in your new address and mail to: in our convenient rental facilities. Address ______AMVETS Dept. of WI MEMORIAL HALL – 5,100 sq. ft. City, State, Zip ______War Memorial Center Room 306 Walnut wood paneling, wood parquet floor, colorful display of United States flags Telephone ( )______750 North Lincoln Memorial Drive adaptable for different events Milwaukee, WI 53202 D.O.B. ______MEETING ROOMS – 415-564 sq. ft. Branch of Service ______all with lake views, some with service kitchens *SPECIAL RATES FOR Entered Service ______VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS* Discharged ______Convenient Parking Lot Sound Off For More Information Call: Type of Discharge ______414-273-5533 Material Due Dates in 2014-15: (Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Signature ______Winter Issue: October 15th, 2014 Dedicated to the Principles of Peace. Date ______“In tribute to those who did their duty as God gave them the light to see that duty .” 2014-15 Due Dates History of AMVETS – General Douglas MacArthur In 1944, while World War II was still rag­ Spring Issue...... January 15th (2015) ing in Europe and in the Pacific, thousands 71st Convention Issue.....……….April 15th (2015) of young men were being sent home with Fall Issue...... July 15th (2015) battle wounds and medical discharges. These Get Involved with veterans had a desire and felt a need to stick together; therefore, they began forming AMVETS clubs which they called American Veterans Announce Your Post and District of World War II. Soon, representatives of in­dividual clubs united to help veterans help Events on Our Department Website themselves; thus AMVETS was born. at www.amvets-wi.org On July 23, 1947, President Harry S. and then visit the site often. Truman signed the Congressional Charter and since then, AMVETS has amended its Contact our Webmaster, charter in 1953, 1966 and 1984 so that Jim Ruppel, today! today, AMVETS is the only Congressionally Chartered veterans organization open to all honorably discharged veterans who served honorably after September 15, 1940, plus Sound Off News is an official publication of the those personnel presently serving on active Department of Wisconsin AMVETS and is pub­ duty or in the reserve component. lished as a service to members and other interested Through the years, AMVETS has proven individuals and organizations. to be the most progressive veterans organi­ Views expressed herein are those of individual zation through exhibits of volunteer work, writers and do not necessarily reflect the positions programs and service to veterans, their fami­ of AMVETS, as a whole. lies and communities throughout America. All AMVETS members are urged to submit mate­ Your membership fee entitles you to each rials for publication. The Editor reserves the right and every issue of Wisconsin AMVETS to edit any materials for length, clarity, brevity, etc. ‘Sound Off,’ published quarterly. Howie Pegelow, Editor

2 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

AMVETS Sound Off Greetings from Your Official Publication of the AMVETS Department of Wisconsin 750 North Lincoln Memorial Drive, Suite 306, Department Officers… Milwaukee, WI 53202

Published quarterly at American Graphics & Design, 720 W. Virginia St., Milwaukee, WI 53204 Graphic Designer: Emily McKenna Commander’s Welcome AMVETS Sound Off is created under the Direction of the Executive Director of AMVETS, Department I want to start by saying thanks to everyone who was at the Convention and elected of Wisconsin, a Congressionally Chartered me as your new Commander. I will give you my best. I am looking forward to traveling nonprofit organization. around the state and meeting each and every one of you. If you would like me to attend an event, I will do my best to make it work. I am very excited to be involved Subscription Fee: Annually, which is paid through in helping veterans in your area and community. Send me an invitation or give a call membership dues. with the time, date and location. So far, I have had the honor of installing Post 1032’s officers and attending their Sound Off Staff parade. At the same time, I also had the pleasure of installing Post 51’s officers. For the Howie Pegelow, Editor remainder of July, my visits will be attending the Price County Welcome Home Picnic, Jane Pegelow, Co-Editor Post 1051’s picnic and the Pow-Wow in which Post 1998 is involved in. In August, I am Bob Dessort, Photographer looking forward to going to National Convention down in Memphis, Tennessee. I am asking that everyone please put in your programs each and every month so we Editorial Office can be at 100% reporting again this year. AMVETS Department of Wisconsin Mark Reiling 750 North Lincoln Memorial Drive, Suite 306 I have received some ideas from some of our members on things that they would like Milwaukee, WI 53202 to see changed. Please keep ideas coming in and we will run them by my officers and see if we can make it work. 414-273-5288 or 414-273-5240 Fax: 414-273-1270 If you have the time, please attend one of the Commander’s hospital tours. The dates are set and will be posted E-mail: [email protected] in the Sound Off. The attendance has been down the last couple of times and we are hoping to make a better showing for our veterans. These tours are not just for the Commander, they are for all to attend. If it is not possible Department Officer Hours: for you to attend these, please stop in at one of the veterans’ homes and visit. Monday through Friday - 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. My Commander’s program this year will be a combined effort with our Auxiliary President Robin Sterletske. It is called At Ease – A Therapeutic Equine Assisted Self-confidence Experience. At Ease is located at the Freedom Stables in Deerfield, Wisconsin, 3989 Oak Park Road. If you’re in the area, stop in and see what they do. All donations to our project will be gratefully accepted. Editorial Criteria God Bless each and every one of you. Looking forward to an exciting year. “Keep smiling with Reiling”. The following are guidelines to aid you in pre­ Mark Reiling Department Commander paring your articles for publication. 1 Typewritten, double-spaced, on one side of standard white paper. Typewritten, double- spaced, on one side of standard white paper; e-mail preferred. 1st Vice Commander Report 2. Normal rules of capitalization and punctua­ tion should be followed. I would like to thank all of you for your continued support and I will do my best to 3. Each photograph should identify the person(s) perform the duties of your Department’s 1st Vice Commander at the level expected by or group(s) in the photo and the activity in you and all my fellow officers. which they are involved. Please indicate the At the State Convention it was voted on and approved that the Department 1st Vice article the photo(s) accompany. Commander will now chair the New Post Committee. I understand that it will be more responsibility for me and future 1st Vice Commanders; however, I feel it is the perfect 4. Captions can be written on the back of photos choice of a person to chair the committee. My reasoning for that is I feel membership (please do not use felt-tipped pens as they retention and Post retention is, and should be, the responsibility of the New Post smear), on a separate piece of paper and Committee. The new 1st Vice just spent a year as your 2nd Vice looking at the Programs attach to their respective photo or at the bot­ Reports for every Post in the state and understands which Posts are struggling. tom of articles with the number of the caption As the 1st Vice Commander they will be looking at membership numbers for every corresponding to the number on the back of Post in the state and will know where to concentrate their efforts. We can start new the photo. Peter Jozefowski Posts and recruit new members but if we don’t retain them, all of our efforts are for 5. Photographs should not be stapled to the nothing. We went through a phase of gaining new Posts several years ago, but the articles or each other (the staple marker will tables have turned and we are now losing Posts. show in reproduction). As of July, we have 111 less members in Wisconsin than we did last year. We have 15 more MAL “Members 6. Articles should not be written on the backs at Large” than we did last year and I am pretty sure that is because we lost a few Posts and some of the members of photos but on a separate piece of paper as transferred to MAL. prescribed in Number 1. We have nine Posts that have 10 or more members less than they had last year, one Post with 22 less and one Post with 25 less members this year than last year. Some of the members I mentioned above may still renew, but 7. Articles must be in on time!! we cannot assume that they will. I would like to mention and thank the Posts that have retained or increased their 8. Regarding digital photos - please send editor membership; good job and keep up the good work. It is all of our responsibility to encourage our fellow members e-mail photos or hard copy photographs. to renew or become Life Members. If you look at the map on the AMVETS Department of Wisconsin website, you can see geographically where the Wisconsin Posts are located. There are many areas of the state where AMVETS is nearly non-existent. If you have veteran friends in any of those areas, please encourage them to become involved by joining a nearby Post, becoming a MAL or organize a Post in their own town. As always, you can contact me with your concerns and I will do my best to help you out. If you know of a community that is interested in starting an AMVETS Post, let me know or have them contact me. I would like to see the District Commanders, Post Commanders and Post Membership Chairmen attend a “Man an AMVETS” table at the WDVA Benefit Expo that Past New Post Chairman Jim Endres has recommended and listed in his SEC report. I have received materials from Jim for the table and plan on attending as many as possible providing my job that pays the bills allows me to do so. I will be contacting the District Commanders prior to the WDVA Expo in your area. In closing, please send your programs reports and newsletters to Jim Ruppel who is the new 2014-15 2nd Vice-Commander.

Peter Jozefowski 1st Vice Commander - Membership 3 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

2014-15 Wisconsin Department Officers

Commander 1st Vice Commander 2nd Vice Commander 1st Year Trustee Mark Reiling Peter Jozefowski Jim Ruppel Bill Forry

2nd Year Trustee 3rd Year Trustee Provost Marshal Judge Advocate Dale Pederson Mike Hanke Jesse Milanowski Jim Smejkal, PDC

NEC Representative Alternative NEC Representative Department Executive Director H & S Chairman Al Willis, PDC Jim Tratz, PDC Mike Kandziora Ken Wendt

Department Riders President Sons of AMVETS President Tom Busse Andy Campbell

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Greetings from Your Department Officers…

2nd Vice Commander Report NEC Report

I hope you all had a fun-filled 4th – the weather was Congratulations Commander Mark and President Robin fantastic! on your election to the highest offices in AMVETS and The State Convention has come and gone. Hope your AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Department of Wisconsin. Post had a rep or two there to find out firsthand what I would like to thank the membership for putting your was going on within your organization, both at State trust in me as your 2nd Vice Commander of Programs and at National levels. It was a great Convention and for the coming year. Like my predecessors, I have the we were honored to have the National Commander goal to maintain and improve on 100% reporting in the there for most of the week. Department of Wisconsin. It is too bad we did not have all the Posts in I would also like to congratulate all of the local and attendance. We were short quite a few Posts – Not district Vice Commanders of Programs, and I look Good. Each Post has (or is supposed to have) an SEC forward to working with you. Reports can be entered Officer whose duty is to attend these meetings and take online at the National Website at Al Willis Jim Ruppel https://www.amvets. back to the Posts any information that may apply to us/reports/ or they can be emailed to me at jhruppel@ his or her Post. There are too many Posts out there that say “we never hear what is yahoo.com. They can also be called in to me or mailed to me. If anyone has any happening at the State that may concern our Post”. Well, if your Post does not do questions or ideas to improve programs in Wisconsin, please feel free to contact me. business online or have your SEC rep attend the Convention and SEC Meeting, you Also to all the editors of Post Newsletters: please mail them to me to be considered will stay in the dark and that is not good for your Posts or for the Department. Next for any awards. month is the National Convention and I will try and bring back any information that may apply to our Department and Posts. Jim Ruppel Hope to see you all at the September SEC in Plover. As AMVETS we need to do 2nd Vice Commander-Programs more than belong; we need to participate. God bless our troops in harm’s way. God bless all our veterans and God Bless America.

Executive Director’s Report PDC Alan Willis NEC Hi, my name is Mike Kandziora, your new Department Executive Director. For the past 3+ years, I have been answering the Department phone as “Mike K.”, serving as the Asst. Director. Fall Department SEC Meeting As in life, there is always change. I have some big shoes to fill with the retirement of Mike Mahoney and At our recent State Convention in Green Bay, our new Commander Mark will endeavor to be just as responsive to your needs. I announced that our September 6th State meetings would be held at the VFW have taken steps to become more efficient in the flow in Waupaca. After further review we found out that most of the hotel rooms in of paperwork at the Department office. We upgraded to Waupaca were already booked for other events. PNC Duane Miskulin offered to new laptop computers and a wireless environment. We look for a site in the Stevens Point area and found one. are in the process of acquiring a new copy machine that Our September 6th AMVETS State Meetings will be held at Shooters, a bar/ Mike Kandziora will more closely serve our present and future needs. restaurant that also has a hall. It is located at 5330 Harding Avenue, Plover, WI As of now, I will be a “one man” show looking for an 54467 (Corner of I-39 and Hwy. 54). The hall is free. They offer a 3-meat buffet assistant; thus, the emphasis on efficiency. for lunch with all the fixins you can think of for just $10.00. I look forward to meeting and serving you, my fellow veterans. Across the street is a new Best Western Hotel at 5253 Harding Avenue, Plover, WI 54467. Phone 715-544-6200 to book a room set aside for AMVETS. The cost Mike Kandziora of the room is $70 plus tax. The hotel serves a continental breakfast. Department Executive Director Mike Mahoney

Senior State Trustee Report Sad Sack Report

As I begin my year as Senior State Trustee, I would No hellos and unhappiness to all you sorry looking like to congratulate all newly elected Department bunch of SAD SACKS. As I am writing this it somehow Officers. I am looking forward to working with all does not come clear that the year has not already started, Department Officers throughout the year. its moving along quite not at a snails pace as some of you This past Convention we had a successful fish bowl on SACKS don’t know. Before i forget we had unelections Friday night and get acquainted festivities with nice prizes at the last Scrimmage not taking place at convention. being awarded. We are hoping to have the same positive Yours truly is still your SADDEST by an unpopular outcome at the State Dance at Waupaca in December. non vote. All State SAD SACK Officers have been duly The upcoming year is already looking like it will unelected to not fulfill their unobiligations for not 1 year. be a very busy year for all Department Officers with Officer list will not be available at the next Scrimmage numerous functions and activities at the Post, District on 06 September 2014. and State levels throughout Wisconsin. William Forry Also before I forget the SAD SACKS Department As we travel around the great State of Wisconsin and William Forry of Wisconsin does not have its own EIN number and neighboring states to attend Veterans’ and other activities, please travel safely and the not same goes for SACK 2002. Money Bags for both does not have the EIN have an enjoyable time doing so. number in possession and unrelated paper work from the IRS. This is an unreminder Please keep those who are not in good health in your thoughts and prayers. for SACKS 1998 and 2001 to not apply for their own EIN number at IRS.gov. It William Forry Senior State Trustee SAD SACK REPORT, continued on page 6 5 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

SAD SACK REPORT, continued from page 5 doesn’t take 15 minutes to not receive one. This requirement has not been sent from National SAD SACKS and is required by the IRS. Also before I forget a National News... $500.00 Nursing Scholarship was not given to the Hospital & Service Foundation at convention by your SADDEST. On Friday 20 June 2014 AT 1531 (3:31 PM) a Scrimmage was not held at the Diabetes, Drinking Raddisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2040 Airport Drive, Green Bay, WI for unfinished unbusiness and disorder. The turn out was average with about 16-18 and Smoking: SACKS not in attendance but nonetheless, it was an unsuccessful Scrimmage where nothing of importance was not accomplished and disorder was in full swing. We A Dangerous Combination have not new Feathers unelected and he does not have paper or pen to not take the scribblings of Scrimmages, hopefully he is not a fast learner. Now Money Bags A healthy lifestyle can help control diabetes. For instance, regular physical activity and a good diet play a big role in managing the disease. But unhealthy needs to not manage our funds better and our tree will continue to bear dividends to habits, such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol, can make diabetes and its keep our cash reserves at a non respectable level and Money Bags does not go on complications worse. a cruise or gambling spree without us. Again before I forget the not so new Money Why? Let’s take smoking first. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs Bags will not keep better eye on our funds and our not new Feathers will not keep (VA), people with diabetes who smoke are three times more likely to die of heart better scribblings of Scrimmages. It should not be noted that Money Bags is not disease than those with diabetes who are nonsmokers. Both diabetes and smoking improving and may lead the not new Feathers astray. increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Smoking also increases the risk for all Yet another year has not already started whereby we shall not gather in our diabetes-related health problems, such as kidney disease, nerve damage and leg cherished custom of the SACK as we gather and search out our humble beginnings and foot infections. According to research published in 2007 in the Journal of the and migrate to that spot where we gather as brothers. There we shall give a deaf ear American Medical Association, smoking also may increase the risk for developing to the loud flapping of gums, chipping of teeth and crying into liquids. This we do diabetes if you don’t already have it. naturally, and remember a little nonsense every now and then is cherished by the Diabetes and smoking are particularly relevant in the Veteran community. Nearly 25 percent of Veterans who receive health care through VA have diabetes and best of us. Yes, we have no fun, no laughter only regrets and tears (in our beer) and almost 20 percent smoke. our best friend is sorrow. Quit Smoking Just a quick unreminder, there is a Scrimmage right after the SEC meeting The best thing to do for your health, whether or not you have diabetes, is to Saturday 06 September 2014 at Shooters, 5330 Harding Ave., Plover, WI54667 for quit smoking as soon as you can. Research shows most smokers want to quit. unfinished unbusiness and disorder. We may not have a Yard Bird or three to not According to VA, 57 percent of Veterans who are current smokers reported that deal with too. they tried to quit within the last year. The addictive nature of nicotine can make All SACKS are forever unreminded to not have a SAD SACK application on their quitting a major challenge. person while not in attendance of said Scrimmage, failure to do so will justly be If you want to quit, talk to your health care team. You can work with a health rewarded by you SADDEST and duly not collected by “Money Bag.” I hope to not behavior coordinator or join a class with other Veterans who are trying to quit. VA see you SACKS at the Scrimmage. In closing if anyone is interested in becoming also offers smoking cessation medicines. a SAD SACK, contact you local SACK of any SAD SACK for more information “If you are having trouble quitting, at least cut back,” advised Dr. Sharon Watts, a Nurse Practitioner and Certified Diabetes Educator for VA. “Cutting back is better and fill out an application along with your payment of annual dues (local Money than nothing.” Bags will quote dues amount). We will not always welcome new Yard Birds with One way to cut back is to learn coping skills you can use in place of having a any thanks and disorder. cigarette, said Watts. “Try taking a walk, talking with a friend, doing an activity you like or listening to a relaxation tape.” William Forry Everything in Moderation Department SADDEST Consuming alcohol when you have diabetes poses another danger to your health. For instance, if you take insulin or diabetes medicine by mouth, too much alcohol may lower your blood sugar for up to 12 hours after drinking, especially if you drink on an empty stomach or increase your physical activity. AMVETS RIDERS of Wisconsin “When you drink too much, your liver stops every other job it does, including making blood sugar, to work on getting rid of the alcohol, which it sees as a toxin,” said Watts. “People think too much alcohol will increase their blood sugar, but The Riders are working on the annual fundraiser for actually the opposite is true.” August 16th for District 2. We also will be participating Alcohol can also worsen nerve pain caused by diabetes and cause weight gain. in the Union Grove Veteran’s Home picnic on July 16th. Being obese or overweight can cause diabetes or make it worse if you already have it. On August 8-9 there will be a ride to Savannah, Illinois. If you drink and have diabetes, do it in moderation. For a man, moderate drinking District 2 has contributed supplies and monetary is up to two drinks per day; for a woman, one drink. A drink is a 12-ounce beer, donations to Cottage 16 in Union Grove. Fisher House 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (such as vodka, gin or rum). has also received donations. The groundbreaking for the If you have diabetes and plan to drink: Fisher House was June 3rd at the Milwaukee VA. • Always eat some form of carbohydrate with your drink, such as crackers, bread or pretzels. District 8 is planning a 4th Annual Bike Run and raffle. • Avoid sweet wines, drinks and liqueurs. Proceeds go to 829 National Guard from Chippewa Falls. • Check your blood sugar more often. They are currently in • Always have a ready source of sugar on hand, such as pieces of hard candy. Tom Busse Afghanistan. • Talk to your health care provider. All districts con­ • Always carry identification that says that you have diabetes. tinue to support local Veterans’ groups to aid vet­ My HealtheVet Can Help erans in homeless situations. To help manage your diabetes, check out the following features on My HealtheVet: Be alert. Be safe. Have fun. • Use “Labs and Tests” and “Vitals and Readings” to keep track of your lab tests and blood sugar, body weight and other important health measures Tom Busse • The food journals and activity journals to help you stay focused on maintaining Riders President a healthy lifestyle • The Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation section of the Healthy Living Centers to help you quit smoking • The diabetes section of the ‘Diseases and Condition Centers’ to learn more about diabetes • The alcohol use screening tool in the ‘Mental Health’ section to see if you should speak with someone about your alcohol use VA has many resources available to Veterans who are concerned about their drinking habits. All VA care locations offer first-time alcohol screening and services for Veterans. If you want to quit or cut back on your drinking, your health care team can put you in touch with people who can help. HHHHHHHHHHH 6 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

National News... VA’s scheduling technical requirements are complex and require clear, well- Medicine Cabinet Full? How articulated communication to ensure comprehensive understanding by industry and potential vendors. As part of the events, the VA is conducting a live scheduling Many Is ‘Too Many’ Pills? system architecture Q&A session to ensure potential solutions seamlessly interface with VA’s VistA electronic health record. VA uses this type of event to facilitate communication with vendors and reduce From VA NEWS the risk of misinterpretation and miscommunication on technical requirements. The information shared during the Industry Day will provide VA with a better Too often, you go to your health care provider and are put on a new pill or understanding of what needs to be included in the upcoming scheduling system you’re told to change the way you take the ones you already have. Ever stop and solicitation, with the ultimate goals of receiving solid proposals and reducing time wonder, “What are all these pills for?” “What happens if I stop a pill or maybe to field new technologies. add one extra?” In fact, getting answers to these questions could save your life. Medication Reconciliation Awareness it is a good time to check what you have and what you need. What is Medication Reconciliation? VA News Announcement Medication reconciliation is a review done by your health care team of all the Under Secretary Allison Hickey Announces medicine you take. Generally, your medicine is reviewed every time you visit your provider, hospital or emergency room. The review is done to keep your medication Actions in Congressional Hearing list up to date. Medication review is important because it can help stop problems before they happen by preventing medication errors. It also helps to make sure you The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced several actions the and your health care teams have the same medication list. Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is taking to ensure the integrity and You’re the only one who really knows what medicines, vitamins, herbals accuracy of claims systems and processes. Under Secretary for Benefits Allison and supplements you are taking. That makes it important for you to share this Hickey outlined the actions in testimony before the House Veterans Affairs information with members of your health care team. This is how it goes: When you Committee“The Veterans Benefits Administration takes seriously its commitment have an appointment with your VA health care provider, they will ask you what to providing timely, accurate benefits, and maintaining the integrity of our systems medications you’re taking. They want to know if you are having any problems with and processes,” said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison Hickey. “We have many a medicine. They may also talk with you about changes to make it easier for you to checks and balances in our systems and data, and we are working to add even more take your medications. as we improve delivery of earned benefits.” This is the best time to ask any questions about your meds. Write down any VA has announced the following actions: questions you have and ask them at your next appointment. Tell the team if you are • Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan Gibson has directed that an expert taking your medicine differently than prescribed. Your health care team needs to team be assembled to determine possible scenarios where an individual might know such things when making recommendations and changes. Tell them if you are find a way “around the system” and decide if further controls are needed. taking any medicine prescribed by any non-VA health care providers. Make sure • VA has directed a 100-percent facility and desk audit of mail and documentation you tell them about any ‘Over the Counter’ medicines you take. This is medicine at all 56 regional offices. The purpose of the review is to ensure records you buy without a prescription like antacids, cold medicines, herbal products, management compliance and proper control, storage, and maintenance of claim vitamins, etc. Don’t forget any free samples you have used as well. mail and other benefit-related documents. Your VA health care team will answer your concerns or questions about your • VBA’s quality program has been independently verified in the past, but in medications. They can also give you an updated list of your medications. Be sure order to be responsive to concerns and further instill trust in the system that you keep your medication list updated and share it with your health care teams, both serves our Veterans, Under Secretary Hickey recently directed VBA to apply inside and outside the VA. It’s a good idea to keep the list in your wallet, in case of for ISO 9001 certification – considered the ultimate global benchmark for an emergency room visit or hospitalization. quality management, which would provide additional external validation and The VA Blue Button allows registered users to keep their medication history additional quality assurance of VBA’s data. online, ready to view, update and print out. If you have an Advanced or Premium • When any individual is found to have worked around the standard claims My HealtheVet account you may also see your VA medication information. You process, the Acting Secretary will respond quickly to begin necessary actions. can also refill your VA prescriptions online. One of those actions is to immediately notify the Office of Inspector General, Secure Messaging is one of the more popular features for Veterans with a where VA proactively refers cases on an ongoing basis as was done with Premium account. You can send and receive messages safely with members of your allegations in the Baltimore regional office. VA health care team. With Secure Messaging you can easily and confidently ask • VA will also continue to provide publicly-available performance data on questions about any medicine you take. benefits through its Monday Morning Workload Reports every week at www. vba.va.gov/reports. In testimony, Hickey stressed that she values the input from her employees, 52 percent of whom are Veterans, and VBA must protect whistleblowers and VA Moves to Secure eliminate any intimidation or retaliation against those who identify cases in which employees may have taken inappropriate action. She also discussed weekly calls New Scheduling System that she holds with front-line staff only, no managers, in order to solicit input from employees. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced it is continuing the process to Acting Secretary Gibson recently met with Carolyn Lerner, Special Counsel of the replace its medical appointment scheduling system through an acquisition process. United States Office of Special Counsel, and committed VA to working to achieve The VA is hosting pre-solicitation “Industry Day” meetings with technology compliance with the OSC 2302 (c) Certification Program, and also reaffirmed his focus vendors to discuss the Department’s upcoming scheduling system acquisition. on ensuring protection from retaliation for employees who identify or report problems. “Our top priority is getting Veterans off waitlists and in to see their doctors,” On Monday, VBA announced it had completed its one millionth disability claim said Acting Secretary Sloan Gibson. “We’re taking a series of immediate actions in fiscal year 2014, and is on track to complete more than 1.3 million claims this to ensure our Veterans receive the timely access to quality health care they have year – ensuring that nearly 200,000 more Veterans will receive decisions on their earned and deserve. We need lasting, long-term reforms, including a complete disability claims than fiscal year 2013, and marking the fifth year in a row VBA overhaul to replace the outdated technology for our scheduling system. Bringing an has completed over one million disability claims. VBA has reduced the claims innovative scheduling product into our world-class electronic health record system backlog by more than 55 percent from its peak of 611,000 in March 2013, and is a crucial part of providing the scheduling staff in our facilities with the tools Veterans with pending claims have been waiting, on average, 128 fewer days for a necessary to succeed. Our Veterans deserve nothing less than our best, and that’s decision on their claim. At the same time, the accuracy of rating decisions continues exactly what we intend to give them.” to improve. VA’s national “claim-level” accuracy rate is currently 91 percent – an This Industry Day presents a unique opportunity for VA to communicate eight-percentage-point improvement since 2011. directly with potential vendors on all aspects of the upcoming scheduling system Disability rating claim decisions in many cases open access to other VA benefits, acquisition. The Industry Day serves as a face-to-face platform for exchanging such as dependency and burial claims benefits, and are managed in the non-rating information about business needs, industry best practices and challenges specific to VA’s scheduling system. VA NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT, continued on page 8

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National News... VA NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT, continued from page 7 work categories. In fiscal year 2013, VBA completed 2.5 million non-rating rating claims and the new Rules-Based Processing System (RBPS), which automates products – the highest production of claims in the non-rating category in 15 years. dependency claims submitted online and can pay Veterans in as little as one day for “While VBA has made significant progress toward eliminating the disability over 50% of claims filed. VBA is also utilizing contractor support to enter existing rating claims backlog, we must also improve productivity on other categories of paper claims into RBPS to provide faster benefits to Veterans. non-rating work,” said Hickey. “We still need to do a better job in timely delivery VBA posts data on the disability claims backlog, the non-rating workload and of these benefits, which is why we have been implementing a seven-initiative-effort other publicly available data on our performance on a weekly, monthly and annual to focus on non-rating claims.” basis through its reports web site at www.vba.va.gov/reports. For more information Some of these efforts include hiring 200 temporary employees to process non- about disability and other Veterans benefits, visit www.ebenefits.va.gov State News... Fisher House Announcement

Past Department Commander Steve Chesna and District 2 Commander/Dept . Trustee Dale Peterson represented the Department of Wisconsin AMVETS at the Fischer House Groundbreaking baseball game on June 3rd . Brewers didn’t do well, but it didn’t seem to dampen their spirits! Wisconsin Veterans Museum Announces Smithsonian Affiliation The Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison recently announced its new country’s heritage, both nationally and locally, and preserve the legacy of those who designation as a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate. This significant title gives the have gone before, while offering inspiration to a new generation.” Museum access to the Smithsonian’s unparalleled collections, scholarship and Nearly 33 million people have visited Smithsonian Affiliates and gained exhibits. exposure to the Smithsonian via exhibitions, programs, performances, events, media Smithsonian Affiliations, established in 1996, is designed to facilitate a recognition and business initiatives, according to the Smithsonian. two-way relationship among Smithsonian Affiliates and the Smithsonian. The “For nearly 70 years, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs has had program establishes long-term relationships with museums to facilitate the loan the responsibility to preserve and safeguard Wisconsin’s military history through of Smithsonian artifacts and traveling exhibitions, and to develop innovative the Wisconsin Veterans Museum,” said WDVA Secretary John A. Scocos. “The educational collaborations locally and nationally. The affiliation was granted after museum is more than a building located on the capitol square in Madison, it is an a lengthy review process by the Smithsonian. There are more than 185 Smithsonian educational package consisting of exhibits, living histories, informational programs Affiliates in the United States, Puerto Rico and Panama. and speakers, and much more. The Smithsonian Affiliate designation will help bring “We are delighted to welcome the Wisconsin Veterans Museum as our newest this unique experience to life for more people and shine the spotlight on the men and Smithsonian Affiliate,” said Harold A. Closter, Director of Smithsonian Affiliations. women of Wisconsin who have given and sacrificed so much.” “The Wisconsin Veterans Museum and the Smithsonian are both committed to In addition to the new affiliation, The Wisconsin Veterans Museum today opened telling the story of the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our a newly renovated exhibit entitled “War on Terror.” The exhibit features a revised country in order to protect our freedom. Working together – through our collections, audiovisual component and displays new images and artifacts from recent conflicts educational outreach programs, and research activities – we will be able to share our in Iraq and Afghanistan to encompass a broader view of the War on Terror. The

WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM ANNOUNCES SMITHSONIAN AFFILIATION, continued on page 9

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WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM ANNOUNCES SMITHSONIAN AFFILIATION, continued from page 8 exhibit was previously titled “The Persian Gulf War 1990-1993.” About The Wisconsin Veterans Museum “It is our duty to continually update the museum to reflect a more current state The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is a free public educational activity of the of affairs and bring to life the stories of the Wisconsin veterans who served in Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and is located at 30 W. Mifflin St., across these conflicts,” said Wisconsin Veterans Museum Director Michael Telzrow. the street from the State Capitol. “We are thrilled to open this exhibit to the public. It is a chapter of our nation’s About Smithsonian Affiliations history that needs to be told, and represents a large number of veterans who Established in 1996, Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program deserve to be recognized.” that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums, educational, and The exhibit focuses on Wisconsin’s role in the Gulf War and the Global War cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian resources. The long- on Terrorism with supporting materials including uniforms, gear, equipment, term goal of Smithsonian Affiliations is to facilitate a two-way relationship among photographs and oral histories. The exhibit, as well as the remainder of the museum, Affiliate organizations and the Smithsonian Institution to increase discovery and is free to the public. inspire lifelong learning in communities across America. Wisconsin Medal of Honor Recipients The Medal of Honor is the highest military award for bravery that can be conferred The Spanish-American War (1898) - 1 Recipient on a member of the American armed forces. It is bestowed for a deed of supreme Brookins, Oscar Army Byron, WI Galloway, OH valor. More often than not, the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously. The Philippine-American War (1899-1902) - 1 Recipient Congress established the Medal of Honor in 1861. Because it was the only McGrath, Hugh J. Army Eau Claire, WI Arlington, VA military medal in existence and the criteria for the award were rather broad, the The Boxer Rebellion-China Relief Expedition (1900) - 1 Recipient Medal of Honor was not bestowed very selectively during its early history. In one Young, Frank A. Marine case, President Abraham Lincoln awarded the Medal of Honor to each member of Corps Milwaukee, WI Arlington, VA a Massachusetts infantry regiment who volunteered to re-enlist in the Union Army. The Mexican Border Campaign (1914-1917) - 2 Recipients To restore the prestige of the Medal of Honor, Congress established a board in 1916 Castle, Guy W.S. Navy Portage, WI Arlington, VA to review all past awards. The board rescinded 911 of the 2,625 Medals of Honor issued De Somer, Abraham Navy Milwaukee, WI At sea before 1916. In addition, stricter standards and the creation of other medals to honor World War I (1917-1918) - 2 Recipients gallant actions caused the number of Medal of Honor awards to decrease significantly Siegel, John O. Navy Milwaukee, WI Unknown in the 20th century. Only 123 Medals of Honor were approved in World War I and only Slack, Clayton Army Madison, WI Arlington, VA 435 in World War II. During the Korean War, 131 Medals of Honor were awarded, and World War II (1941-1945) - 16 Recipients 240 were bestowed during the Vietnam War. Agerholm, Harold C. * Marine Wisconsin citizens have been the recipients of 62 Medals of Honor. This figure does Corps Racine, WI Racine, WI not include a special Congressional medal awarded to General William “Billy” Mitchell Anderson, Beauford T. Army Soldiers Grove, WI California of Milwaukee, the pioneer air power theorist after whom Milwaukee’s airport is named. Bong, Richard I. Army Listed below, by conflict, are the Wisconsinites who have received the Medal of Honor. Air Corps Poplar, WI Poplar, WI Burr, Elmer J. * Army Menasha, WI Neenah, WI The Civil War (1861-1865) - 21 Recipients Endl, Gerald L. * Army Janesville, WI Fort Atkinson, WI Name Branch Residence/ Gruennert, Kenneth E. Army Helenville, WI Helenville, WI place of birth Place of burial Jerstad, John L. * Army Anderson, Peter Army Lafayette Co., WI Newell, IA Air Corps Racine, WI **ABMC, Belgium Coates, Jefferson Army Boscobel, WI Dorchester, NE MacArthur, Douglas Army Milwaukee, WI Norfolk, VA Cosgriff, Richard H. Army Hudson, WI Chippewa Falls, WI Miller, Andrew * Army Two Rivers, WI **ABMC, France Croft, James E. Army Janesville, WI Janesville, WI Mower, Charles E. * Army Chippewa Falls, WI **ABMC, Durham, John S. Army Malone, WI Leavenworth, KS Philippines Ellis, Horace Army Chippewa Falls, WI Eagle Point, WI Newman, Beryl R. Army Baraboo, WI Urbanna, VA Ellis, William Army Little Rock, AR San Bernardino Olson, Truman O. * Army Cambridge, WI Stoughton, WI Co., CA Peterson, Oscar V. * Navy Prentice, WI Missing at sea Hayes, John Navy Mercer Co., PA Blairstown, IA Salomon, Benjamin L. Army Milwaukee, WI Glendale, CA Hilliker, Benjamin Army Waupaca, WI Hollywood, CA Van Valkenburgh, Johnson, John Army Janesville, WI Washington, D.C. Franklin * Navy Milwaukee, WI Pearl Harbor, HI MacArthur, Arthur Jr. Army Milwaukee, WI Arlington, VA Young, Cassin Navy Milwaukee, WI Pearl Harbor, HI Moore, Daniel B. Army Mifflin, WI Mineral Point, WI The Korean War (1950-1953) - 5 Recipients Murphy, Dennis J.F. Army Green Bay, WI Allouez, WI Christianson, Stanley R. * Marine O’Connor, Albert Army Columbia Co., WI Orting, WA Corps Mindoro, WI Mindoro, WI Patterson, John T. Army Mauston, WI Mauston, WI Handrich, Melvin O. * Army Manawa, WI Manawa, WI Pond, George F. Army Fairwater, WI Fort Scott, KS Ingman, Einar Army Irma, WI Living Pond, James B. Army Janesville, WI Bronx, NY Red Cloud, Mitchell Jr. * Army Jackson Co., WI Jackson Co., WI Sickles, William H. Army Columbia Co., WI Orting, WA Sudut, Jerome A. * Army Wausau, WI Wausau, WI Toohey, Thomas Army Milwaukee, WI Kansas City, MO The Vietnam War (1964-1972) - 6 Recipients Truell, Edwin M. Army Mauston, WI Arlington, VA Bellrichard, Leslie A. * Army Janesville, WI Janesville, WI Waller, Francis A. Army DeSoto, WI Retreat, WI Fritz, Harold A. Army Milwaukee, WI Living The Frontier Wars (1865-1891) - 7 Recipients Modrzejewski, Robert J. Marine Albee, George Army Baraboo, WI Arlington, VA Corps Milwaukee, WI Living Cable, Joseph A. Army Madison, WI Crow Agency, MT Sijan, Lance * Air Force Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI Goldin, Theodore F. Army Avon, WI King, WI Stumpf, Kenneth E. Army Milwaukee, WI Living Hill, Frank E. Army Mayfield, WI San Francisco, CA Wetzel, Gary G. Army Milwaukee, WI Living Nolan, Richard J. Army Milwaukee, WI Washington, DC Robbins, Marcus M. Army Elba, WI Pittsfield, MA * Posthumous award Windus, Clarion A. Army Janesville, WI Bracketville, TX ** American Battle Monuments Commission Cemetery

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Auxiliary Preamble We, the mothers, wives, widows, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, stepdaughters AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary has been serving their families, communities and and granddaughters of the American Veteran and female veterans, fully realizing our nation’s veterans for over 50 years. All of our service is accomplished through our responsibilities to the community, state and nation, associate ourselves for the volunteer hours and contributions of our members and supporters. Because of our following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of members and people like you, who care and want to make a difference, we are able America; to safeguard the principles of freedom, liberty and justice for all; to promote to support our various projects throughout the United States. Donations to John the cause of peace and goodwill among nations; to maintain inviolate the freedom Tracy Clinic, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, PAWS With A Cause, and Freedom’s of our country; to preserve the fundamentals of democracy and Americanism; to Foundation enable each of these organizations to provide the care to those children perpetuate the friendship and associations of the American Veteran and to dedicate with disabilities and medical conditions, physically challenged adults and children, ourselves to the cause of mutual assistance…this by the grace of God. and instill patriotism in the youth of America. Ladies Auxiliary News Ladies Auxiliary – Department Officers 2014-15 Officers A Message from 1st Vice Louise Paul 2nd Vice Carol Amborn Department Auxiliary 3rd Vice Shari Hagel President Legislative Liaison Paula Cummings Treasurer Sandy Conradt I am honored to have been elected as the AMVETS Ex-Secretary Karen Spittlemeister Ladies Auxiliary President for the Department of Scholarship Ann Palm Wisconsin 2014-15. I look forward to working Chaplain Sharon Sahr with Commander Mark on our joint program “AT Sergeant-at-Arms Deb Suchon EASE”. We recently had the pleasure of visiting Parliamentarian Marvell Ruppel Harmony Stables in Deerfield and getting to know PRO/Historian Katie Zuberbier Robin Sterletske some of the people working with “AT EASE”. You can learn more about the program at https://sites.google.com/site/ Americanism Helen Dessort ateasefordisabledveterans/ and you can also check them out on Facebook! NEC Darlene Hempel I just got through with a long weekend of volunteering at LIFEST. For Alt NEC Emily Rataichek those who aren’t familiar with LIFEST, it is one of the largest Christian music White Clover Liaison Joan Sirek festivals in the country and it’s held in Oshkosh. This year, American Idol Hospital Cathy Tratz alum Mandisa was one of the headliners. Mandisa has a song entitled “Back to You”. Now being a Christian artist, I’m sure she had a different subject matter Committees in mind, but I think her lyrics reflect the way we, as an organization, feel about Convention Board Gorgette Sampo, Helen Dessort, Joan Sirek our veterans: Bylaws Marvell Ruppel, Elaine Ludka, Judy Kasza I could never say enough to thank you for everything Finance Sandy Conradt, Robin Sterletske, Candy Endres, You’ve done for me; And I might think I could do enough to show You, Emily Rataichek but I know that’s just a crazy dream. Karen Spittlemeister, Judy Kasza, Carol Amborn, This shouldn’t be complicated; this isn’t that hard to see. It’s not about what I do for You, it’s what You’ve done for me. Dorothy Gouine Let us always strive to do our very best in giving back to those who gave so Ways & Means Dorothy Gouine, Cheryl Klapste, Shari Hagel much. God Bless our veterans, God Bless our troops, God Bless the U.S. and Luncheon Chair Karen Spittlemeister God Bless each of you!! President Fund Deb Suchon Appeals Board Marvell Ruppel, Lynn Beck, Lynda Taylor Robin Sterletske Personnel Ellen Schmidt, Sharon Sahr, Deb Burdick AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary President Audit Char Griffin, Katie Zuberbier, Judy Kasza Nominating Lynn Beck, Joann Johnson, Helen Dessort Convention Credentials Sharon Sahr, Ann Palm, Emily Rataichek New Auxiliary Louise Paul, Robin Sterletske, Karen Spittlemeister, Candy Endres Support Louise Paul, Darlene Hempel, Karen Spittlemeister Gorgette Sampo, Candy Endres, Lynda Taylor, Robin Sterletske

10 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin AMVETS Riders – AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Post 50 Department of Wisconsin 2013-14 - Election results for State Officers: President: Tom Busse 1st Vice: Jim Ruppel 2nd Vice: Don Larsen Sr. Secretary: Sharon Busse Treasurer: Kelli Koellner Judge Advocate: Howie Pegelow Chaplain: Kim Barbian Sgt. At Arms: Guy Mockler

The Third Grade students at Phillips Elementary School participated in the 2013/14 AMVETS Auxiliary Americanism Essay and Poster Contest . The theme for this year’s contest was “What The Pictured are Ladies Auxiliary members Deb The AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary made 68 Easter Baskets American Flag Means to Me” . Pictured are the local Hlavacek, President Dolores Gradinjan and filled with Easter goodies and delivered them to residents winners, L-R: 1st Place Pooja Muruganandan and Linda Schweikert setting up and selling individual in the four assisted living homes in Phillips . The homes Allie Adomaitis; 2nd Place Alec Bjork; and 3rd Place kolaches to the public . This was the third year were Regency House, Duroy Terrace Apartments, Lake Megan Delasky . The students are proudly displaying the AMVETS Auxiliary was asked to host the Village Housing and Lakeside Villa . Pictured are AMVETS their trophy, Happy Gram and wearing their Hospitality Table at the annual Czech-Slovak Auxiliary members Etola Foytek, Linda Schweikert and “Winner” medallion . Pictured in back of students, Community Festival . The Ladies Auxiliary sold President Dolores Gradinjan with some of the lady residents L-R, are Auxiliary President Dolores Gradinjan, over 8,000 kolaches . Also helping but not pictured at Lakeside Villa wearing the beautiful Easter bonnets that teachers Mrs . Cummings, Mr . Hoogland, Mrs . Lasee were Judy Stanke and Marilyn Flietner . they made for the occasion . and Auxiliary member Linda Schweikert . Don’t Forget to Eat the Peel By Joanna Douglas, Senior Editor, Yahoo News

Most of us toss fruit peels in the trash, because what else are you going to do with them? Eat them! It turns out they’re not just edible, but the skin and rind of some fruits is actually loaded with fantastic beauty and health benefits. Kimberly Snyder, celebrity nutritionist and author of The Beauty Detox Foods, says there are many great ways to incorporate these nutrient-rich peels into your diet. “The peel can contain up to three to four times higher a concentration of fiber as the fruit inside,” says Snyder. “Fiber is an important part of the body’s process when it comes to cleansing toxins from the body. Peels also contain a bevy of anti- aging antioxidants and vitamins.” By the way, they’re also very low in calories, fats, and sugars. “For some citrus fruits like oranges, the peel has even higher levels of vitamin C than the juice,” says Snyder. The peel of fresh orange also contains vitamin A, B vitamins, and minerals such as zinc, calcium, selenium, and manganese. But how are you supposed to eat them? Snyder suggests zesting citrus peels with a grater into your salad dressing or tossing a piece of the peel into smoothies. “I was recently in Thailand doing a few weeks of a cooking intensive, and we threw kaffir lime peel into the mortar and pestle for certain chili pastes.” What about banana peels? Sounds gross, but they actually increase serotonin levels, Department of Wisconsin Auxiliary Fundraisers Katie and Robin having fun . which can boost your mood. Like the fruit, they’re a good source of potassium, but Snyder says they contain much more soluble fiber (which makes you feel full and help lower bad cholesterols) and insoluble fiber (which keeps your gastrointestinal tract moving). In some parts of the world like India and Asia it’s common to cook or fry banana peels or use them in desserts. Try adding a piece into a smoothie or pureeing a few tablespoons and mixing into your cake recipes. Waiting till the fruit is more ripe will yield thinner, tastier Watermelon rinds are another great option since they contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, and citrulline, an amino acid that helps dilate blood vessels to improve circulation. Peel off the green skin and put the white rind into your juicer along with the juicy pink parts. Snyder does offer one important piece of advice when eating peels: buy organic. “Not only are organic foods generally more nutritious since they are usually grown in better quality soil, but they also do not contain pesticides,” she says. While organic bananas are not typically much more costly than conventional ones, some organic produce can be pricey. When in doubt, consult the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” items with the most pesticides used. “If you plan on using the zest or peel of fruits, I would stick to organic as the pesticides can seep into the peel and it may be not possible to truly remove them through washing.” Don’t forget the cores and seeds! “Pineapple cores are less juicy and a bit harder, but are still very nutritious and filled with the enzyme bromelain, known to have anti- inflammatory and cleansing effects in the body,” says Snyder. She also says eating a small amount of papaya seeds can have anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial effects, and can help with liver detoxification – hello, hangover cure.

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White Clover Princess Kylie Morris 2014-2015 Ms. Kylie Morris was selected to represent AMVETS and the Department as the 2014-15 White Clover Princess. Kylie’s parents are members of Post 911 and submitted her qualified essay, which is printed below. Why I Would Like to Represent AMVETS as Miss AMVETS White Clover Princess

Growing up, I learned that many of my family I was amazed and overcome when the 128th rallied to support me through my members had been in the military. It was something recovery. People I did not necessarily know on a one-on-one basis found ways to that seemed to run in the family. My Dad would reach out to me. The strength of the military family – a family of hundreds! Through tell me stories about his father and the hardships this I learned the importance to support our community. Miss AMVETS is one way that he faced. I want to contribute and support our armed forces. It warmed my heart to know that there were so As a college student beginning this fall, this would provide me an avenue to reach many people out in the world who risk their lives for out and educate others my age. I believe it is important to educate this generation the freedom of the people. I feel that the Veterans with the many aspects of the military. Whether it be for those that may be interested and the current people serving have done more for in joining the military, or ways to volunteer and support the various Veteran me and others that I can never repay. But if I could organizations. Many are not aware of how Veteran’s organizations are involved in represent the AMVETS by being the White Clover and support the community. Bridging the gap…I will attend all banquets, meetings Princess, I think that I can accomplish many goals. I and events…be willing to assist in any way that I can. I look forward to representing believe that I was born with a talent that allows me the AMVETS and becoming a role model and asset to the organization. Kylie Morris, to connect with lots of people, especially people faced Editor’s Note: If your District or Post would like to have the WCP attend White Clover Princess with hard obstacles. your functions…please feel free to contact PDC Al Willis – Coordinator of the Having faced a difficult event when I was severely injured in an ATV accident, WCP Program.

Kylie Morris Crowned at AMVETS Event By Kenosha News Staff – Kylie Shayne Morris was crowned Miss AMVETS functions around the state. Selection is made through an essay contest open to high White Clover Princess at the 70th Annual AMVETS Department of Wisconsin schoolers who carry a minimum B average and have an AMVETS family member. State Convention held June 19-22 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Kylie Morris, a recent graduate of Central High School, is the daughter of Andrea Green Bay. Morris, B. Shane Morris and stepmother Cheryl Morris. Her father and stepmother She will serve as the public relations liaison to all of Wisconsin’s VA centers, are active members of AMVETS Post 911. She will be attending the University of the Minneapolis and Iron Mountain, Michigan VA centers and various AMVETS Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the Fall. A Letter from the Middle East – Combat Zone From U.S. Army Major Kris Spielbauer Don & Reggie, I promised a new photo when they were taken. So here is our most recent one. It’s not a big group. But like I said we are split up. It’s still HOT here. We are now at 120-130 degrees today. This past week has been nothing but dust storms. We also have one bottle of water in our hands while we work with the other. I went up in the air today with a trip to drop someone off at the hospital. It doesn’t look much different up in the air. Just more desert, more camels and no vegetation. Our most important part of our jobs is to take care of soldiers as you know. We are still pretty busy here. There are a lot of soldiers moving in and out. I know most of them will have stories far better than mine. And of course many are in harm’s way. Only one more holiday to get thru and we will be heading home. I hope there is still green grass when I get there. I hope you have a good weekend. Please tell everyone hello for me. And let POST 4 know that the “Treats for Troops” was a huge success. Everyone really enjoyed all the goodies. Nothing went to waste. I enclosed a letter for Rawson School. I know they are on summer vacation but just wanted them to know the cards were delivered if you wouldn’t mind taking my letter to them. Thank You. I will see everyone in a few more months. Editor’s Note: Major Kris Spielbauer (seated, far left) is a Life Member of AMVETS Respectfully, Wisconsin, Post 4. She is currently stationed in a Medical Unit in the Middle East. Kris Spielbauer Her letter and photo was sent to Don and Reggie Arkins.

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Commander’s Scheduled Tours

2014 September 12-13 King October 10, 10:00 a.m. Union Grove October 17, 8:30 a.m. Zablocki October 31, 9:00 a.m. Iron Mountain November 8, 8:30 a.m. Minnesota November 14, 10:00 a.m. Chippewa Falls

2015 April 24, 1:00 p.m. Middleton May 15, 9:30 a.m. Tomah

Commander Reiling and Auxiliary President Sterletske wish to invite all AMVETS to attend and greet our veterans. Post News... Post 4 South Milwaukee, WI

Post 4-South Milwaukee held its annual summer picnic at The American Legion “Music by Bryan” rang out the songs we all know and love. Post in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Members of Posts 500, 1032, 911, 60, 61, 37, 4 Our Department Commander Mark Reiling and Ladies Auxiliary President and the Sons and various Auxiliaries attended the gala. Robin Sterletske, along with our WCP Kylie Morris, were happy to attend and There were great brats and hamburgers along with all the fixings to enjoy. participate in the many activities.

Can anyone be more happy than Aux 4 member Linda Our WCP, Aux . President and Commander attended 1st Vice Commander Peter Jozefowski . Spielbauer? the festivities .

The Post 60 members enjoying each PDC DB with 2nd District Commander Well, we have been on a great tour so PDC Endres . other’s company . Peterson . far…it only gets better!

Family togetherness . Post 60’s Leroy Judd enjoys picnics . Tony says…Treats for the Troops! Happy couple…Tom & Sandy Wolf .

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Post News... Post 35 Watertown, WI

Bonnie Hrobsky is pictured above on the patriotic motorcycle owned by Allen Watertown Reidemann-Thompson American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 35 Color Zabel . This motorcycle follows the Post marching unit during parades . She was Guard Unit participated in the July 4, 2014 Watertown parade . Prior to the parade awarded a Certificate of Achievement award a number of years ago in recogni- a number of AMVETS volunteers handed out AMVETS history and flag etiquette tion of the assistance she has given to the Post with parade activities, clover information to parade watchers along the route . Pictured, Back Row, L-R: Bruce drives, fundraisers, etc . Her involvement with the Post also has had her holding Thompson, Robert Haley, Jr ., Jeff Ready, Dennis Berg, Larry Ready, Henry positions with the Ladies Auxiliary, as well as attending numerous veteran cer- Gaugert, Russell Sell and Danny Bauer . Front Row, L-R: Adolfo Garcia, Christian emonies over the years in Neillsville at the High Ground Memorial, etc . Bonnie Garcia, Allen Zabel, Clancy Zabel III, Clancy Zabel II, Hailey Zabel, Luxandria has been a “true supporter” of Post activities over the last 30 years which support Abbott, Niki Abbott and Jami Zabel . veterans and the community .

Watertown Riedemann-Thompson AMVETS Post No. 35 on Saturday, June 14, Post 35 was first organized back in 1947 and was named in the memory of two 2014 placed a Legacy Stone on behalf of the Post name and its past, present and future young soldiers who died as Prisoners of War (POW) during World War II. Harvey members at the High Ground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville, Wisconsin. The Riedemann and George Thompson were both from Watertown. Riedemann died in High Ground has evolved to be a memorial park which pays tribute to the dead and a Japanese POW camp while Thompson died in a Nazi POW camp. Thus, the Post honors the survivors, their service and their sacrifices. It also pays tribute to the people is named after one Pacific and one European war theatre victim from Watertown to who supported them when they were away and upon their return. perpetuate their memories through the years to come.

Pictured are AMVETS Post 35 members that attended the Legacy Stone Dedication at the High Ground in Neillsville, Wisconsin . L-R: Allen Zabel, Bruce Thompson, Richard Nuoffer, Harvey (Joe) Hrobsky (kneeling in front), Frank AMVETS Post 35 also provided an Honors presentation for the Korean War Braatz, Bonnie Hrobsky, Dennis Berg and Robert Haley . Joe was instrumental in Veterans Memorial ceremony, which took place earlier in the day at the High his efforts to ensure that a legacy stone was laid on behalf of the Post at the High Ground . Members of the Post included, L-R: Steve Siegel, Allen Zabel, Harvey (Joe) Ground . Just prior to the stone being laid in its place at the memorial, a pair of Hrobsky, Bonnie Hrobsky, Bruce Thompson, Dennis Berg and Frank Braatz . bald eagles could be seen circling overhead .

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Post News... Post 37 Milwaukee, WI 50 Years in AMVETS – Serving Veterans AMVETS Post 37 was chartered on May 4, 1964. Helping them get started in AMVETS was Post 4. Their first Post was located at My Man’s tavern in Milwaukee. Then My Man’s moved to West Milwaukee and then the Post moved to their present location, the Ice House in Milwaukee. Through out Post 37’s history, they have had many Post members serve on many State and National committees. The Post has had AMVETS Post 50 Commander Douglas Rasmussen, Wisconsin State 17 Post Commanders, 6 Department Commanders, 2 National Service Officers, 2 Commander Mark Reiling and Auxiliary President Dolores Gradinjan attended NEC Men, 1 Assistant Executive Director for the Department of Wisconsin, 1 VAVS the Commemorative Vietnam Veterans Trailer dedication held in Prentice, Rep at Zablocki VA Medical Center, 0-National Committee Chairman , 3 2nd District Wisconsin . The project is to remind the public of the sacrifices made by this group Commanders, 3 State Judge Advocates, and 2 Presidents of the Past Commanders Club. of unheard Veterans . It stretches across the county presenting significant events Post 37 has also had Post members receive Post Commander of the Year, District Commander of the Year and AMVET of the Year awards. of each year during the 13-year war period . All Veterans who served in this period Post 37 has also been blessed with two Miss AMVETS White Clover Princesses: Miss were all treated the same . Jackie Basgall and Miss Katie Maren. AMVETS Post 37 has had a long history of serving our Veterans in the Milwaukee area and around the state. They have always had a strong showing at the many events and programs AMVETS has to offer. Post 37 has been a supporter of the AADAA program. Post 37 has also supported other Posts throughout the District and State. You will still frequently find Post 37 members at awards dinners, fundraisers and picnics. You will also find Post members at our State Campout and the State Dart Ball and State Bowling Tournaments. Post 37 will host the State Bowling Tournament in 2015. Having had three 2nd District Commanders, Post 37 has always been a strong supporter of programs and events in the 2nd District. AMVETS Post 37 is still quite active and continues to serve our Veterans at the Zablocki VA Medical center hosting bi-monthly Bingo parties on the 9th floor. Post 37 also holds a picnic for the Vets there. They host an annual barbecue lunch followed by an afternoon of Bingo and a chicken dinner with all the trimmings. They also support AMVETS Sad Sacks 98 giving out soda at the big 4th of July picnic at Zablocki. For years Post 37 has been a strong supporter of the VA hospitals and the WDVA homes in Wisconsin. Post members are also still active outside of the Post, serving as officers and on committees at the District, State and National levels. AMVETS Post 37 is very proud of their many opportunities to serve our Veterans and look forward to serving them for many years to come. Many AMVETS and Auxiliary members of Post 50 attended the ceremony at Jim Endres, PDC Prentice High School, where Veteran Ronald N . Sandquist of Prentice, Wisconsin Member of AMVETS Post 37 at last took home the U .S . Army Bronze Star he had earned through heroic actions in Vietnam on May 12, 1968 . The bronze star was presented to Ronald Sandquist by U .S . Congressman Sean Duffy from Wisconsin . Duffy walked everyone through the fateful events that propelled Sandquist to heroism .

Post 50 For the Czech-Slovak 31st Annual Community Festival, Phillips, WI which was held on June 20-22, AMVETS members Douglas Rasmussen, Ron Koerner and LeRoy Ciscon set up their military display for the 70th Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy, commonly referred to as “D-Day”. On June 6, 1944 the Allied forces launched the largest seaborne invasion in history. Nearly 24,000 Allied troops stormed the coast of France shortly after midnight, risking their lives to begin the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe. The operation greatly contributed to an Allied victory in the war and remains crucially important to our nation’s history. AMVETS Post 50 in Phillips, Wisconsin conducted a Flag disposal program along with the Boy Scouts, The American Legion and the VFW . The program was Pictured is Doug Rasmussen holding a paratrooper model M-1 carbine with held at the Phillips VFW Post . folding stock used by the airborne troops .

15 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

Post News... Post 51 Post 69 Sturgeon Bay, WI New Glarus, WI Lower Mississippi Gets New CG Commander Submitted by Ken Wendt

Captain Timothy J. Wendt relieved Captain William M. Drelling as commander of Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River in an official change-of-command ceremony. As the Sector Commander, Captain Wendt will serve as Captain of the Port, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection and Search and Rescue Mission Captain Timothy Wendt receives Sector Coordinator. He will be responsible for Post 69 Coffee with Past Commander Francis Beers at Heartsong Assisted Living Lower Mississippi River from Captain all Coast Guard missions conducted by Facility . Pictured, L-R: Francis Beers, Dennis Orr, Bill Kuenzi, John Marty, Al William M . Drelling . 225 active duty and reserve members. Bertelrud and Tom Pedretti . Wendt graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. His operational tours in the Coast Guard include stints as Operations Officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Sundew in Duluth, Minnesota; Executive Officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Ray in Sturgeon Post 99 Bay, Wisconsin; Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Cutter Oreas in Coos Bay, Oregon; Commanding Officer of Guard Cutter Oak in Charleston, South Carolina; Manitowoc, WI and Response Chief for Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, New York. The Coast Guard noted that the “change-of-command” ceremony is a time-honored tradition and deeply rooted in Coast Guard and naval history. The event signifies a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability for the command. Post 60 Oak Creek, WI

AMVETS Post 99 Commander Dennis Scherer poses with the 2014 Gravity Hill Derby 1st Place winner Andrew Yindra .

July 4th Greendale, Wis- consin Parade . Members of Post 60 and Veter- ans from several orga- nizations participated, along with various fire and police departments . A large group of area school children lead off the parade on their bicy- AMVETS Post 99 members, Auxiliary and volunteers visited Harmony Home of cles and wagons . Manitowoc for an Ice Cream Social with the residents .

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Post News... Post 2180 Necedah, WI

Pictured are AMVETS and Auxiliary members of Post 2180 that attended the Post 2180 members took time for a photo at the Visitors Center in Necedah which Night at the Races . sponsors the Homeless Veterans Program .

Commander’s and President’s Program AT EASE By Jim Endres, PDC, Commander’s Aide-de-Camp

Located in south central Wisconsin near the small town of Deerfield is Freedom Stables, home of Harmony Horsemanship and AT EASE. AT EASE denotes: A Therapeutic Equine Assisted Self-confidence Experience. “AT EASE offers America’s Disabled Veterans an opportunity to experience the freedom that comes from connecting with horses.” The AT EASE program was started in the fall of 2010 by Teddy Schlueter and his business partner Paulette Stelpflug. Teddy is a wounded Vietnam Vet. “It brings Teddy great personal fulfillment to share his talents and love of horses with his fellow Veterans,” says Stelpflug. Because of his own PTSD, he understands the needs of other disabled Veterans. Freedom Stables’ AT EASE program has over a dozen full-size horses of various breeds, a mini horse, 2 ponies, 2 mini mules and a donkey for the Vets to interact with. In addition to working with the horses from the ground, Veterans have opportunities for riding and cart driving. The mission of AT EASE is “to provide a place where America’s disabled Veterans can interact with each other, be at ease and build greater self-confidence while developing a partnership with horses using Harmony Horsemanship’s 100% natural methods.” Teddy and Paulette together with a dozen or so volunteers work with homeless Vets and disabled Vets mainly from the southern part of the state, but their program is open to all Vets or active military from all over the state. In 2012, the At Ease program partnered with members of the Wisconsin National Guard’s 1st Brigade, 105th Cavalry and the Light Horse Cavalry Association of Wisconsin. Here is just one of many success stories from the AT EASE program. A three- Sergeant Joe Smith of 105th Bravo Troop rode Chavez and carried the POW/MIA tour Iraq war veteran suffers from PTSD. The Vet is very withdrawn and has flag at the July 4th Parade in Watertown . difficulty dealing with others. His caseworker brought him to Freedom Stables. once said, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man [or woman].” After only 20 minutes with the horses at AT EASE the Vet was smiling, something There is no charge to the Vet for this program. It is totally funded through the caseworker said they had never seen him do. By the end of the day the Veteran donations, fundraisers and boarding fees. In August, AT EASE will host their 2nd was laughing and really enjoying himself. annual Family Forward Fun Festival to help raise funds for their work with Veterans. Freedom Stables is building a new 65’ x 200’ indoor arena. The new building will Please help support Commander Mark’s and President Robin’s joint program with be ADA accessible and have ADA-approved rest room facilities. The new building individual, Post and District donations. will be open in August of 2014. To learn more about the AT EASE program, call or visit Teddy and Paulette at: Commander Mark and President Robin have chosen AT EASE as their joint Freedom Stables, 3989 Oak Park Road, Deerfield, WI 53531or phone 608-695- project this year because it “offers America’s Disabled Veterans an opportunity to 0990. They would love to hear from you. experience the freedom that comes from connecting with horses.” Winston Churchill AT EASE is recognized as a Wisconsin nonprofit organization.

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2014-2015 Department Officers Commander St. Francis, WI 53235 Dept. Auxiliary Liaison Post 888 Commander Mark Reiling, Sr. 414-744-2301 Paula Cummings Larry Johnson W11212 Zerngable Road Email: [email protected] 389 County Road D 116 E. Division Street Park Falls, WI 54552 Bancroft, WI 54921 Barron, WI 54812 C: 715-661-2427 Alternate NEC 715-335-4324 715-637-6463 H: 715-762-1850 Jim Tratz Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 1140 Laager Lane Post 1998 Commander Oshkosh, WI 54902 Dept. Saddest Suzanne Mills-Wemm Vice Commander-Membership 920-233-3870 Bill Forry P.O. Box 1418 Peter Jozefowski Email: [email protected] 4885 Blue Ridge Road Hayward, WI 54843 409 Hillcrest Drive Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 715-699-1174 Beaver Dam, WI 53916 Admin. Board Chairman 920-559-8019 Email:[email protected] 920-382-9268 Steve Chesna Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 2156 W. 9th Avenue, Apt. 1 2nd District Commander Oshkosh, WI 54904 Dept. Riders President Dale Peterson Vice Commander- Programs 920-235-2617 Tom “Buzzard” Busse P.O. Box 271 Jim Ruppel Email: [email protected] 425 Rivermoor Drive Burlington, WI 53105 N33W7120 Buchanan Street Waterford, WI 53185 262-763-8161 Cedarburg, WI 53012 Executive Director 262-514-4274 Email: [email protected] 262-375-3891 Mike Kandziora Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 302 E. Kendale Drive Post 3 Commander Oak Creek, WI 53154 Dept. Sons Commander Robert Hawkins Finance Officer 414-764-9196 Andy Campbell 2630 Iris Court Dennis Maeder Email: [email protected] 323 S. River Road Racine, WI 53402 8811 W. Daphne Street Burlington, WI 53105 262-681-0237 Milwaukee, WI 53224 Asst. Executive Director 262-716-1925 [email protected] 414-353-6080 VACANT Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Post 4 Commander Recording Secretary DISTRICT & POST Dennis Burdick Judge Advocate Bob Dessort COMMANDERS 2014-2015 3636 S. 54th Street Jim Smejkal 1611 Cardinal Street Milwaukee, WI 53220 W3197 County Trunk O New London, WI 54961 1st District Commander 414-327-5290 Appleton, WI 54913 920-982-2773 Robert Lund Email: [email protected] 920-420-5180 Email: [email protected] 2517 8 1/4 Avenue Email: [email protected] Chetek, WI 54728 Post 5 Commander HOSPITAL & 715-642-3626 Ray Gehrke Trustee 1 Year SERVICE FOUNDATION Email: [email protected] 8747 W. Dogwood Street Bill Forry Chairman Milwaukee, WI 53224 4885 Blue Ridge Road Ken Wendt Post 25 Commander 414-446-8176 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 231 S. Ninth Avenue Ron Blomberg 920-559-8019 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 2075 21-3/4 Street Post 14 Commander Email: [email protected] 920-743-5050 Rice Lake, WI 54868 Ken Ricciardi Email: [email protected] 715-419-2313 2898 S. Mabbett Avenue Trustee 2 Year Email: [email protected] Milwaukee, WI 53207 Dale Peterson Vice Chairman 414-744-9234 P.O. Box 271 Ted Sterletske Post 72 Commander Burlington WI 53105 222 S. Main Street Charles Gordon Post 37 Commander 262-763-8161 Brillion, WI 54110 802 Forest Street Dennis Barrington Email: [email protected] 920-427-6543 Downing, WI 54734 5423 W. Greenfield Avenue, #4 Email: [email protected] 715-651-9231 West Milwaukee, WI 53214 Trustee 3 Year Email: [email protected] 414-745-3975 Mike Hanke Auxiliary Hospital Chairman 316 Division Street Cathy Tratz Post 127 Commander Post 60 Commander Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 1140 Laager Lane John Vacho Barbara Richwalski 715-797-1340 Oshkosh, WI 54902 W7785 E. Town Line Road 8052 S. Wildwood Drive, #202 Email: [email protected] 920-233-3870 Ladysmith, WI 54848 Oak Creek, WI 53154 Email: [email protected] 715-415-4580 414-241-8113 Provost Marshal Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Jesse Milanowski Department Address: P.O. Box 157 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin Post 128 Commander Post 61 Commander Nelsonville, WI 54458 War Memorial Center, Room 306 Leonard Shier Larry Decker 715-824-4463 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive P.O. Box 277 8415 Kenyon Avenue Email: [email protected] Milwaukee, WI 53202 Chetek, WI 54728 Wauwatosa, WI 53226 414-273-5288/5240 715-237-2418 414-771-3696 Convention Board Chairman FAX: 414-273-1270 E-Mail: [email protected] Duane Miskulin Email: [email protected] Post 120 Commander 928 Elm Road North Post 190 Commander Raymond Fay Stevens Point, WI 54481 Dept. Auxiliary President Martin Corrie 1523 N. Main Street 715-341-3818 Robin Sterletske N11867 Brancel Road Racine, WI 53402 Email: [email protected] 222 S. Main Street Minong, WI 54859 262-637-0725 Brillion, WI 54110 715-466-4129 Email: [email protected] NEC 920-427-6526 Email: [email protected] Alan Willis Email: [email protected] 4059 S. Troy Avenue

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2014-2015 Department Officers (cont’d.) Post 726 Commander Post 41 Commander 6th District Commander Post 69 Commander Mike Reseberg James Wiese Lawrence Hanke Thomas Pedretti 6360 Highway M, West Bend, WI 53090 698 E. 2nd Street, Apt. 104 20 E. Somo Avenue 110 Longview Avenue 262-675-6243 Fond du Lac, WI 54935 Tomahawk, WI 54487 Mount Horeb, WI 53572 920-322-0857 715-453-1017 608-437-3626 Post 911 Commander Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Leslie Hanson 34016 Cattail Drive Post 45 Commander Post 50 Commander Post 151 Commander Burlington, WI 53105 Melvin Borchardt Doug Rasmussen Joseph Baumann 262-492-3291 1401 Wyman Street P.O. Box 104 4802 Goldfinch Drive Email: [email protected] New London, WI 54961 Phillips, WI 54555 Madison, WI 53714 920-982-3434 715-332-5380 608-221-1220 3rd District Commander Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Stan Kulas Post 1212 Commander P.O. Box 301 Dr. Jeff Wierichs Post 500 Commander Post 1181 Commander 413 Manitowoc Street 2 Olde Paltzer Lane Jim Jirschele Richard Hale Reedsville, WI 54230 Appleton, WI 54913 1369 N. 1st Avenue 1006 21st Street 920-905-3581 920-991-1073 Park Falls, WI 54552 Brodhead, WI 53520 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 715-762-4537 608-897-4841 Email: [email protected] Post 42 Commander Post 1887 Commander 8th District Commander Marvin J. Dequaine Chris Stanton Post 724 Commander Pat Young E6145 Highway K P.O. Box 75 Ben Zastrow P.O. Box 666 Algoma, WI 54201 King, WI 54946 1002 Coon Street La Crosse, WI 54601 920-487-2248 715-942-2244 Rhinelander, WI 54501 608-782-1168 Email: [email protected] 715-369-1351 Email: 5th District Commander Email: [email protected] Post 51 Commander Ed Koslowski Post 1 Commander Joe Heilman 1117 Forest Grove Post 1051 Commander Randy Onstad P.O. Box 183 Green Bay, WI 54313 Michael Worzalla 23991 Tracy Street Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-434-0423 1388 County Road HH West Independence, WI 54747 920-743-1148 Email: [email protected] Stevens Point, WI 54481 715-985-3257 Email: [email protected] 715-347-0682 Post 6 Commander Email: [email protected] Post 32 Commander Post 99 Commander William E. Smith, Jr. Jon Larson Dennis Scherer 4317 13th Street Post 2000 Commander P.O. Box 532 3415 S. 15th Street Menominee, MI 49858 Richard Jeske Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Manitowoc, WI 54220 906-863-6988 W4688 Spruce Road 715-723-3341 920-682-8330 Email: [email protected] Merrill, WI 54452 Email: [email protected] 920-684-6577 Clubhouse 715-219-0334 Post 10 Commander Email: [email protected] Post 1128 Commander Post 1032 Commander Stu Kohlin William Grantham Jack Cummings 905 S. Olson Street Post 3929 Commander P.O. Box 55 10305 Reifs Mills Road Shawano, WI 54166 Terry Klay Boyceville, WI 54725 Whitelaw, WI 54247 715-584-5075 P.O. Box 512 715-977-0391 920-732-4344 Email: [email protected] Wausau, WI 54402 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 715-842-8680 Post 11 Commander Post 1851 Commander 4th District Commander Lisa Drossert Post 8400 Commander Patrick Skroch VACANT P.O. Box 1052 William Spence 2011 Loomis Street Green Bay, WI 54305 1855 Engberg Lane La Crosse, WI 54603 Post 7 Commander 920-619-3000 Phelps, WI 54554 715-586-0839 Jeff Bedward Email: [email protected] 715-545-2517 526 W. 14th Avenue Email: [email protected] Post 2180 Commander Oshkosh, WI 54902 Post 57 Commander Vince Marchetti 920-232-0750 Ed Koslowski 7th District Commander N5531 Shrine Road Email: [email protected] 1117 Forest Grove Alan Bertelrud Necedah, WI 54646 Green Bay, WI 54313 175 Hanna Road 608-565-2787 Post 13 Commander 920-434-0423 Belleville, WI 53508 Email: [email protected] Gary Vander Perren Email: [email protected] 608-445-7872 1100 W. Bannerman Avenue Email: [email protected] Post 5494 Commander Redgranite, WI 54970 Post 63 Commander Mike Jerrett Post 33 Commander 920-290-1156 Robert Wusterbarth 188 Third Street Del Yaroch Email: [email protected] P.O. Box 384 Hixton, WI 54635 206 S. University Avenue Oconto, WI 54153 608-343-2683 Beaver Dam, WI 53916 Post 30 Commander 920-634-8874 Email: [email protected] 920-885-6903 Seth Flink Email: [email protected] 9 Hollyhock Court Post 160 Commander Post 6440 Commander Appleton, WI 54914 Todd Cornell Post 35 Commander Tom Vodacek 920-944-5456 7328 Zawalick Lane Allen Zabel 27782 State Highway 40 Email: [email protected] Sobieski, WI 54171 701 N. Church Street New Auburn, WI 54757 920-822-1550 Watertown, WI 53098 715-967-2810 920-262-0067 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

19 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

AMVETS Department State Attention to Wisconsin Raffle 2014 Winners AMVETS traveling to the Cash Raffle on June 21, 2014 State of Arizona in November Prize Name Ticket Number The homeless men and women vet­ $2,000 (Grand Prize) Cheri Nies 058106 erans in the greater Phoenix area are $900 Robert Szulczewski 075596 being sponsored by “the Company of $800 Jerome Kasza 003989 Friends of Trilogy at Power Ranch”, a $700 Klint Glander 097257 charitable organization with a recogni­ $600 Kay Ladwig 035183 tion program. $500 AMVETS Post 25 053038 This is the second year for such $400 Benjamin Weina 064611 needed program. Last year, the suc­ $300 Robert P. Stone 063888 cess of the program was because of $200 Carol Schroeder 055090 the hard working volunteers and the $150 Robert P. Stone 063983 hundreds of attendees working under $100 Tim Chase 099682 the same goal – the goal of serving $100 Matt Bergs 026116 the many needy area veterans is their $100 Robert Buhr 080315 reward of satisfaction. $100 Dennis G. Wood 063234 Through great effort, the raising of $100 Thomas Rabbitt 048356 funds exceeded $13,000. The funds were equally divided among three rec­ ognized shelter organizations whose Operation DVD sole purpose is to serve the area home­ less veterans, both men and women. This program has been going on in the state for six years This year’s goal is to exceed that of now, but for the last year has been non-existent. Without last year. The many, many veterans greatly need such assistance to reach this goal. your support, our servicemen won’t have anything to look If you or anyone you might know are considering visiting Arizona this fall, please forward to when they get back to their barracks. consider participating in this worthy program. We have over 50 Posts and just think how big this program would be if the majority of the Posts participated. If your Post does not want to collect DVDs but still wants to participate monetarily, donations are also needed. The money is used to send the DVDs to National or to send the DVDs overseas. Make the checks payable to “AMVETS 2nd District” and in the memo part write Dennis Barrington “National” or “Overseas” on it.

PDC Dennis (DB) Barrington DVD Chairman 414-745-3975 AMVETS Announces Phase One Completion Of the 128th Infantry Memorial Highway Chippewa Falls, June 10th, 2014: AMVETS (American Veterans) is proud to announce the completion of phase one of the 128th Infantry Memorial Highway in St. Croix County. The Department of Transportation will be completing and placing the Memorial marker in Glenwood City. An early July placement is tentatively scheduled. Phase two is planned at a later date which will include a flag pole, light and the names of the 128th Infantry soldiers killed in combat in Iraq, as well as WWI and WWII.

128th INFANTRY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY STH 128, commencing at STH 72 in Pierce County and proceeding northerly to STH 64 in St. Croix County, as the “128th Infantry Memorial Highway” to honor the members of the 128th Battalion of the 32nd Infantry Brigade for bravery, sacrifice and devotion in their service in Iraq, as well as World Wars I and II. Dedicated by authority of Wisconsin Statute 84.10315

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Women Who Served Missoula WWII veterans prepare for Big Sky Honor Flight, remember service as WAVES The grounds of Arlington National “I was very patriotic,” Van Fossen said. “I never had any brothers and my dad, Cemetery were grassy hills free, for the of course, was too old to serve, that was in my mind. It was quite an adventure for most part, of the now-familiar rows of white a country girl from Montana.” crosses when Eleanor Weidman roamed the Van Fossen, now 89, graduated from WAVES yeoman school and was assigned memorial as a young Navy WAVES recruit. to duty “close to home” in Farragut, Idaho, where she worked as a court reporter The dome of the U.S. Capitol sat dark and for various businesses. at night, as did the rest of the city under Van Fossen remembers Farragut exploding with celebration when it was blackout orders issued during World War II. announced the war was finally over. Weidman, now 90, joined the Women “They were throwing up their hats in the streets,” she said. Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service She then headed to Seattle where she met her husband, C.J. Van Fossen and for program from Stockton, California, a month a time watched the children of a Lt. Peterson, who would eventually spare C.J. after she turned 20. It was 1943 – not quite from an overseas tour. two years after Weidman gathered with “Talk about politics,” Van Fossen said. classmates in her college lounge to watch Van Fossen and C.J. raised their family in Anaconda before retiring in Missoula. President Franklin Roosevelt declare war. Weidman met her husband, Bob, when she went back home to California after After she enlisted, Weidman attended the war. She eventually used the G.I. Bill to get her master’s of home economics the WAVES Female Officer Training from Iowa State University. School at Hunter College, graduated from The Weidmans raised their family in Missoula after Bob got a job as a shopkeepers’ school in Georgia and was first geology professor. assigned to work inside temporary Navy * * * Eleanor Weidman, then Eleanor buildings erected in the nation’s capital for Both Van Fossen and Weidman raised daughters who spent careers in the Young, was a Storekeeper 1st Class wartime duty. military. when she had a portrait taken of She did accounting tasks six days a week, Both lost their husbands recently. herself upon her discharge from slipping in and out of work under the Both hesitated to sign up for the Honor Flight. the U .S . Navy WAVES in 1946 . watchful eye of Abraham Lincoln seated in “I didn’t think I had done much,” Weidman said. the nearby Lincoln Memorial. But they were eventually convinced by family and friends that it was an “The information came out on big sheets. opportunity they deserved and shouldn’t miss. There were budgets of ships and stations all “I saw the itinerary and got excited,” Van Fossen said. over the world,” she said. Weidman might finally see the dome of the U.S. Capitol light up the night. When Weidman revisits the nation’s Van Fossen wonders if she might run into one of the countless friends she made capital next week as a guest of Montana’s during her time as a WAVES yeoman. She’s lost track of most of them and pointed sixth Big Sky Honor Flight, she knows the out many who have passed away. seven decades since her last trip there will Because of that, Van Fossen and Weidman hope to see the Women in Military have changed things immensely. Service for America Memorial located near Arlington Cemetery. “I supposed I might really look forward to It would be an added bonus on a trip where there will already be much to take seeing Arlington, how it’s transformed, for a in and much to remember. sad reason,” she said. “I think,” Van Fossen said, “it’s an honor.” Weidman and fellow Missoula Village Senior Residence resident Lois Van Fossen will be among almost 100 Montanans on the free flight that escorts WWII veterans to Lois Van Fossen holds her wedding the memorials built in Washington to honor portrait of herself and husband C .J . their generation’s sacrifices. Van Fossen in their Navy uniforms The flight leaves from Billings next in 1946 . She was 22 and he was 24, Sunday and returns Monday. and both were still on active duty . In all, it’s a 37-hour trip. Other than nurses, WAVES weren’t allowed overseas during WWII. Instead, recruits were sent throughout the country, working the jobs that needed to be done. Navy records indicate there were as many as 8,000 WAVES officers during the war. Weidman had already finished junior college in California when she turned 20 – the minimum enlistment age – and joined WAVES. She spent 13 months in Washington, D.C., before spending 13 months in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. “I was in the office for fleet records,” she said. “I think we were overlooking where the Arizona went down. I never did ask. It was pretty well cleaned up by the time I got there.” Weidman and Van Fossen were likely at Hunter College during the same time. Van Fossen, like Weidman, jumped at the chance to join WAVES when she turned 20, although it took several months to convince her mother to sign the waiver form. Pictured reminiscing are Lois Van Fossen and Eleanor Weidman . Both women joined Van Fossen grew up in Roundup and worked in Spokane before joining WAVES. the U .S . Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service during the 40s .

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Candid Convention 2014

Beautiful smile…beautiful princess . Commander Reiling with future AMVET . Eat, drink and be merry .

Even a National Commander needs to chill out and relax . Happy Dad . Mom and daughter .

Just because retirement is around the corner… still time for duties . Memories of the Air Force .

22 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

Candid Convention 2014

Now Commander Chesna is happy! Proud parents!

Watching over a future AMVET . Riders at rest . The future WCP with family .

Time for a break . Relaxing at the dance .

WCP and Mom . WCP with Post 63 . WCP Brittany Smith .

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Did You Know? Discounts for Seniors 1. Your shoes are the first thing people subconsciously notice about you. Wear This list may not only be useful for you, but for your friends and family, too. nice shoes. Remember, YOU must ASK for your discount! 2. If you sit for more than 11 hours a day, there’s a 50% chance you’ll die within RESTAURANTS: Applebee’s: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+) Arby’s: the next three years. 10% off (55+) Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+) Bennigan’s: discount varies by location 3. There are at least 6 people in the world who look exactly like you. There’s a 9% (60+) Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+) Boston Market: 10% off chance that you’ll meet one of them in your lifetime. (65+) Burger King: 10% off (60+) Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee 4. Sleeping without a pillow reduces back pain and keeps your spine stronger. (55+) Chili’s: 10% off (55+) CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+) Dennys: 10% off, 20% off 5. A person’s height is determined by their father, and their weight is determined for AARP members (55+) Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+) Einstein’s by their mother. Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+) Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior 6. If a part of your body “falls asleep”, you can almost always “wake it up” by platter (55+) Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+) Golden Corral: 10% off (60+) Hardee’s: shaking your head. $0.33 beverages everyday (65+) IHOP: 10% off (55+) Jack in the Box: up to 20% off 7. There are three things the human brain cannot resist noticing: food, attractive (55+) KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+) Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+) Long people and danger. John Silver’s: various discounts at locations (55+) McDonald’s: discounts on coffee 8. Right-handed people tend to chew food on their right side. everyday (55+) Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+) Shoney’s: 10% 9. Putting dry tea bags in gym bags or smelly shoes will absorb the unpleasant off Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+) Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & odor. Tuesday (50+) Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+) Taco Bell : 5% off; free beverages for 10. According to albert Einstein, if honeybees were to disappear from earth, seniors (65+) TCBY: 10% off (55+) Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+) Village Inn: 10% humans would be dead within 4 years. off (60+) Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+) Wendy’s: 10% off (55+) White 11. There are so many kinds of apples, that if you ate a new one every day, it would Castle: 10% off (62+) This is for me…if I ever see one again. take over 20 years to try them all. RETAIL & APPAREL: Banana Republic: 30% off (50+) Bealls: 20% off 12. You can survive without eating for weeks, but you will only live 11 days first Tuesday of each month (50+) Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month without sleeping. (55+) Big Lots: 30% off Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount 13. People who laugh a lot are healthier than those who don’t. days (55+) C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (50+) Clarks : 10% off 14. Laziness and inactivity kills just as many people as smoking. (62+) Dress Barn: 20% off (55+) Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by 15. A human brain has a capacity to store five times as much information as location) Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location) Kmart: 40% Wikipedia. off (Wednesdays only) (50+) Kohl’s: 15% off (60+) Modell’s Sporting Goods: 30% 16. Our brain uses the same amount of power as a 10-watt light bulb! off Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions Ross Stores: 10% off 17. Our body gives enough heat in 30 minutes to boil 1.5 liters of water! every Tuesday (55+) The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+) Stein 18. The ovum egg is the largest cell and the sperm is the smallest cell! Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+) 19. Stomach acid (conc. HCL) is strong enough to dissolve razor blades! GROCERY: Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+) American 20. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day and while you walk, smile. It is the Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+) Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% ultimate antidepressant. off every Wednesday (60+) DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday 21. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. (60+) Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+) Fry’s Supermarket: free Fry’s VIP 22. When you wake up in the morning, pray to ask God’s guidance for your Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+) Great Valu Food Store: 5% off purpose today. every Tuesday (60+) Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+) Harris 23. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+) Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by manufactured in plants. location) Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location) Morton Williams Supermarket: 24. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, broccoli and almonds. 5% off every Tuesday (60+) The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+) Publix: 25. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 15% off every Wednesday (55+) Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday 26. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the (60+) Uncle Guiseppe’s Marketplace: 15% off (62+) past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy TRAVEL: Airlines: Alaska Airlines: 50% off (65+) American Airlines: various in the positive, present moment. discounts for 50% off non-peak periods (Tuesdays-Thursdays) (62+)and up (call 27. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with before booking for discount) Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up a maxed out charge card. (call before booking for discount) United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and 28. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. up (call before booking for discount) U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and 29. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Forgive them for everything! up (call before booking for discount) Rail: Amtrak: 15% off (62+) Bus: Greyhound: 30. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 15% off (62+) Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50+ 31. You don’t have to win every argument; agree to disagree. CAR RENTAL: Alamo Car Rental: up to 25% off for AARP members Avis: 32. Make peace with your past, so it won’t spoil the present. up to 25% off for AARP members Budget Rental Cars: 40% off; up to 50% off for 33. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. AARP members (50+) Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+) Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 34. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 5% off for AARP members Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members National Rent- 35. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’ A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members 36. Help the needy! Be generous! Be a ‘giver’ not a ‘taker’ OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS: Holiday Inn: 20-40% off depending 37. What other people think of you is none of your business. on location (62+) Best Western: 40% off (55+) Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off 38. Time heals everything. (60+) Waldorf Astoria-NYC $5,000 off nightly rate for Presidential Suite (55 +) Clarion 39. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. Motels: 20%-30% off (60+) Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+) Comfort Suites: 20%- 40. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay 30% off (60+) Econo Lodge: 40% off (60+) Hampton Inns & Suites: 40% off when in touch. booked 72 hours in advance Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+) InterContinental 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+) Mainstay Suites: 10% off with 42. Each night before you go to bed, pray to God and be thankful for what you Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+) Marriott Hotels: 25% accomplished today! off (62+) Motel 6: Stay Free Sunday nights (60+) Myrtle Beach Resort: 30% off 43. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed. (55+) Quality Inn: 40%-50% off (60+) Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+) Sleep Inn: 40% off (60+) ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT: AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+) Bally Total Fitness: $100 off memberships (62+) Busch Gardens Tampa, FL: $13 off one-day tickets (50+) Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+) Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+) Regal Cinemas: 50% off Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+) CELL PHONE DISCOUNTS: AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $19.99/ month (65+) Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+) Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+). MISCELLANEOUS: Great Clips: $8 off haircuts (60+) Supercuts: $8 off haircuts (60+) 24 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

Famous Members of Hollywood who placed their Careers on Hold to Serve their Country…Do you Remember Them? Provided by Bill Forry

• Sterling Hayden, US Marines and OSS. Smuggled guns into Yugoslavia and • Harry Carey, Jr., US Navy. parachuted into Croatia. • Mel Brooks, US Army. Combat Engineer. Saw action in the Battle of the Bulge. • James Stewart, US Army Air Corps. Bomber pilot who rose to the rank of General. • Robert Altman, US Army Air Corps. B-24 Co-Pilot. • Ernest Borgnine, US Navy. Gunners Mate 1c, destroyer USS Lamberton. • Pat Hingle, US Navy. Destroyer USS Marshall • Ed McMahon, US Marines. Fighter Pilot. (Flew OE-1 Bird Dogs over Korea as well.) • Fred Gwynne, US Navy. Radioman. • Telly Savalas, US Army. • Karl Malden, US Army Air Corps. 8th Air Force, NCO. • Walter Matthau, US Army Air Corps., B-24 Radioman/Gunner and cryptographer. • Earl Holliman. US Navy. Lied about his age to enlist. Discharged after a year when • Steve Forrest, US Army. Wounded, Battle of the Bulge. they Navy found out. • Jonathan Winters, USMC. Battleship USS Wisconsin and Carrier USS Bon • Rock Hudson, US Navy. Aircraft mechanic, the Philippines. Homme Richard. Anti-aircraft gunner, Battle of Okinawa. • Harvey Korman, US Navy. • Paul Newman, US Navy Rear seat gunner/radioman, torpedo bombers of USS • Aldo Ray. US Navy. UDT frogman, Okinawa. Bunker Hill • Don Knotts, US Army, Pacific Theater. • Kirk Douglas, US Navy. Sub-chaser in the Pacific. Wounded in action and • Don Rickles, US Navy aboard USS Cyrene. medically discharged. • Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy. Served aboard an LST in the Battle of Okinawa. • Robert Mitchum, US Army. • Soupy Sales, US Navy. Served on USS Randall in the South Pacific. • Dale Robertson, US Army. Tank Commander in North Africa under Patton. • Lee Van Cleef, US Navy. Served aboard a sub chaser then a mine sweeper. Wounded twice. Battlefield Commission. • Clifton James, US Army, South Pacific. Was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, • Henry Fonda, US Navy. Destroyer USS Satterlee. and Purple Heart. • John Carroll, US Army Air Corps. Pilot in North Africa. Broke his back in a crash. • Ted Knight, US Army, Combat Engineers. • Lee Marvin, US Marines. Sniper. Wounded in action on Saipan. Buried in Arlington • Jack Warden, US Navy, 1938-1942, then US Army, 1942-1945. 101st Airborne National Cemetery, Sec. 7A next to Greg Boyington and Joe Louis. Division. • Art Carney, US Army. Wounded on Normandy beach, D-Day. Limped for the rest • Don Adams. US Marines. Wounded on Guadalcanal, then served as a Drill Instructor. of his life. • James Gregory, US Navy and US Marines. • Wayne Morris, US Navy fighter pilot, USS Essex. Downed seven Japanese fighters. • Brian Keith, US Marines. Radioman/Gunner in Dauntless dive-bombers. • Rod Steiger, US Navy. Was aboard one of the ships that launched the Doolittle Raid. • Fess Parker, US Navy and US Marines. Booted from pilot training for being too • Tony Curtis, US Navy. Sub tender USS Proteus. In Tokyo Bay for the surrender tall, joined Marines as a radio operator. of Japan. • Charles Durning. US Army. Landed at Normandy on D-Day. Shot multiple times. • Larry Storch. US Navy. Sub tender USS Proteus with Tony Curtis. Awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Survived • Forrest Tucker, US Army. Enlisted as a private, rose to Lieutenant. Malmedy Massacre. • Robert Montgomery, US Navy. • Raymond Burr, US Navy. Shot in the stomach on Okinawa and medically discharged. • George Kennedy, US Army. Enlisted after Pearl Harbor, stayed in sixteen years. • Hugh O’Brian, US Marines. • Mickey Rooney, US Army under Patton. Bronze Star. • Robert Ryan, US Marines. • Denver Pyle, US Navy. Wounded in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Medically discharged. • Eddie Albert, US Coast Guard. Bronze Star with Combat V for saving several • Burgess Meredith, US Army Air Corps. Marines under heavy fire as pilot of a landing craft during the invasion of Tarawa. • DeForest Kelley, US Army Air Corps. • Clark Gable, US Army Air Corps. B-17 gunner over Europe. • Robert Stack, US Navy. Gunnery Officer. • Charles Bronson, US Army Air Corps. B-29 gunner, wounded in action. • Neville Brand, US Army, Europe. Was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. • Peter Graves, US Army Air Corps. • Tyrone Power, US Marines. Transport pilot in the Pacific Theater. • Buddy Hackett, US Army anti-aircraft gunner. • Charlton Heston, US Army Air Corps. Radio operator and aerial gunner on a • Victor Mature, US Coast Guard. B-25, Aleutians. • Jack Palance, US Army Air Corps. Severely injured bailing out of a burning • Danny Aiello, US Army. Lied about his age to enlist at 16. Served three years. B-24 bomber. • James Arness, US Army. As an infantryman, he was severely wounded at Anzio, Italy. • Robert Preston, US Army Air Corps. Intelligence Officer • Efram Zimbalist, Jr., US Army. Purple Heart for a severe wound received at • Cesar Romero, US Coast Guard. Coast Guard. Participated in the invasions of Huertgen Forest. Tinian and Saipan on the assault transport USS Cavalier. • Mickey Spillane, US Army Air Corps, Fighter Pilot and later Instructor Pilot. • Norman Fell, US Army Air Corps., Tail Gunner, Pacific Theater. • Rod Serling. US Army. 11th Airborne Division in the Pacific. He jumped at • Jason Robards, US Navy. was aboard heavy cruiser USS Northampton when it was Tagaytay in the Philippines and was later wounded in Manila. sunk off Guadalcanal. Also served on the USS Nashville during the invasion of the • Gene Autry, US Army Air Corps. Crewman on transports that ferried supplies over Philippines, surviving a kamikaze hit that caused 223 casualties. “The Hump” in the China-Burma-India Theater. • Steve Reeves, US Army, Philippines. • William Holden, US Army Air Corps. • Dennis Weaver, US Navy. Pilot. • Alan Hale, Jr., US Coast Guard. • Robert Taylor, US Navy. Instructor Pilot. • Russell Johnson, US Army Air Corps. B-24 crewman who was awarded Purple • Randolph Scott. Tried to enlist in the Marines but was rejected due to injuries Heart when his aircraft was shot down by the Japanese in the Philippines. sustained in US Army, World War I. • William Conrad, US Army Air Corps. Fighter Pilot. • Ronald Reagan. US Army. Was a 2nd Lt. in the Cavalry Reserves before the war. • Jack Klugman, US Army. His poor eyesight kept him from being sent overseas with his unit when war came • Frank Sutton, US Army. Took part in 14 assault landings, including Leyte, Luzon, so he transferred to the Army Air Corps Public Relations Unit where he served for Bataan and Corregidor. the duration. • Jackie Coogan, US Army Air Corps. Volunteered for gliders and flew troops and • John Wayne. Declared “4F medically unfit” due to pre-existing injuries, he materials into Burma behind enemy lines. nonetheless attempted to volunteer three times (Army, Navy and Film Corps.) so • Tom Bosley, US Navy. he gets honorable mention. • Claude Akins, US Army. Signal Corps., Burma and the Philippines. • Audie Murphy, America’s most-decorated soldier, who became a Hollywood star as • Chuck Connors, US Army. Tank-warfare instructor. a result of his US Army service that included his being awarded the Medal of Honor.

25 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

Mayo Clinic Advises – Our 4th of July Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration Water and Heart Attacks of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. How many folks do you know who say they don’t want to drink anything before Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the going to bed because they’ll have to get up during the night!! Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died Heart Attack and Water: Drink 1 glass of water before going to bed avoids stroke from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. or heart attack! I never knew all of this! Interesting. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Something else I didn’t know…I asked my Doctor why people need to urinate What kind of men were they? so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor: Gravity holds water in Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. the lower part of your body when you are upright (legs swell). When you lie down Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of the lower body (legs, etc.) seeks level with the kidneys; it is then that the kidneys means, well-educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. remove the water because it is easier. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his but this was news to me. debts, and died in rags. Correct time to drink water – Very Important – From A Cardiac Specialist: Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body: 2 glasses family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was of water after waking up helps activate internal organs kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. 1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal helps digestion Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, 1 glass of water before taking a bath -helps lower blood pressure Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge and Middleton. 1 glass of water before going to bed avoids stroke or heart attack At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis I can also add to this. My physician told me that water at bedtime will also help had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George prevent nighttime leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse. and she died within a few months. Mayo Clinic on Aspirin – Dr. Virend Somers is a Cardiologist from the Mayo John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children Clinic who is the lead author of the report in the July 29, 2008 issue of the Journal fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than of the American College of Cardiology. a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his Most heart attacks occur in the day, generally between 6 a.m. and Noon. Having children vanished. one during the night, when the heart should be most at rest, means that something So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank unusual happened. Somers and his colleagues have been working for a decade to these patriots. It’s not much to ask for the price they paid. show that sleep apnea is to blame. Remember: freedom has never been free! We thank these early patriots, as well as 1. If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night. The reason: the patriots today fighting to KEEP our freedom! All give some, but some give all. Aspirin has a 24-hour “half-life”; therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the Aspirin would be strongest in your system. 2. Aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest; for years (when it gets The Bitter Truth About Salt old, it smells like vinegar). Salt is a crystalline mineral mainly made up of sodium chloride. Salt is used Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve instantly on the tongue. They work as a seasoning in foods and a preserving agent. Humans also have a innate taste much faster than the tablets. for salt. Our taste buds identify six major tastes, including salt. When we taste Why keep Aspirin by your bedside? There are other symptoms of a heart attack, a food containing the mineral, our taste buds send a signal to the brain labeling besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the the taste “salt”. chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating; however, these symptoms may also Sodium, Salt and the Body occur less frequently. Sodium is a required mineral for bodily function. Sodium is one of the eight Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack. alkaline minerals and one of the 102 minerals in the elemental chart. Sodium can The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did be found in nature. We need sodium for proper health, especially to balance our not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sodium-potassium balance levels. sleep. If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow It helps us to hold and properly use water, especially in hot weather. Too little them with a bit of water. sodium can lead to dehydration. Sodium is also important for proper muscle Afterwards: Call 911. Phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close function in addition to stabilizing imbalances in blood pH. by and say “Heart attack!” Say that you have taken two aspirin. Take a seat on a Salt, on the other hand, is not crucial to the body. Salt is largely made up of chair or sofa near the front door and wait for their arrival and DO NOT LIE DOWN! sodium chloride, so many people believe they need salt. In reality, they need sodium chloride. Too much salt throws the body out of balance, and can contribute to the development of disease. Some health conditions associated with excess salt include: high blood pressure, fluid retention, red eyes. Adding salt to food in one way people are consuming too much of it. Most of the processed or canned foods today have tons of added salt. This helps preserve the food and enhance the flavor. Some of us add even more salt to the food! The result is often high blood pressure. Sea Salt Sea salt is the salt nature naturally produces in water. This is the only salt you should use. Since it is natural and unrefined, it is not harmful to the body. Remember, all salts should be consumed in moderation, like everything else. Sea salt is naturally brown in colors and somewhat resembles beach sand. It is coarse and comes in a variety of sizes. Three main sizes of sea salt exist: fine, coarse and granulated. If you have any question whether a salt is natural sea salt or not, remember that all sea salt will dissolve in water. Natural Ways to Maintain Sodium Levels Celery is one of the best natural ways to consume sodium. The vegetable helps lower blood pressure as well. Juice or eat the vegetable raw for the maximum health benefits. Maintaining a balance of sodium and potassium in the body can be done very easily, too. Drink a glass of water with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Drink this every day for the best benefits. Remember that diet ultimately determines health. Consume a healthy plant-based diet to keep your body functioning as it should. Avoid added synthetic salt and instead focus on wholesome, pure flavors.

26 AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

Convention 2014

Helen Dessort accepting for Sandy Conradt as Aux . Award Winners . Member of the Year

27 Convention 2014

From one Commander The Color Guard . Dale Peterson . to the new Commander . Vince Marchetti . Mr . and Mrs . Sterletske .

Tom Busse . Presenting of the check . Mr . and Mrs . Mahoney . Mr . and Mrs . Endres .

Mr . and Mrs . Reiling . Mr . and Mrs . Forry . Mr . and Mrs . Ruppel . Mr . and Mrs . Tratz .

Presenting Auxiliary President Robin Mr . Jozefowski . Swearing in of Commander Reiling . President Endres . Sterletske .

National Commander John Presenting the WCP Brittany Mitchell . Presenting the WCP Kylie Morris . Smith . White Clover Princesses .

Remembering a fallen AMVET, From one WCP to another . WCP Kylie Morris . Presenting of the wreath . husband and father .