MOON BROTHERS POST 275 M ARCH ISSUE 118 Next Meeting: March 3rd, 2016 7:00 P.M. Kenton County Court House Independence Email: [email protected] or phone: 859-429-0750 Website: www.moonbrothers275.org Facebook: Moon Brothers Post 275 of the American Legion

From our Post to you warriors! We are grateful for your sacrifices to our country during the War ! David Agee James Kennedy John Bach Daniel Litzler Paul Berning Gary Miller Bart Bingaman Raymond Miller Wendel Bridges John Mills James Brown David Millward Jim Bushong James Mooney Gerald Chambers Edward Muench Sanford Collins Leon Myers James Cook Frank Nether

Harold Crowe Tom Nicodemus William Day John Pool Garth Edwards Danny Powers Charles Finnell Frank Pulsfort Arthur Fischer Kash Reed Thomas Frye Patrick Sandfoss Bill Hall William Schneider William Harmon Dennie Skaggs Clarence Hill Paul Terry

James Hunt George Wesselman Larry Ishmael Morris Woolum

Vietnam Campaign Military Medal

Service: All Country: Republic of Vietnam Instituted: 1966 Criteria: 6 months service in the Republic of Vietnam between 1961 and 1973 or if wounded, captured or killed in action during the above period. Devices: Silver Date Bar Notes: Bar inscribed “1960” is the only authorized version.

Vietnam Campaign Medal - Background

The Republic of was established by the Government of the Repub•lic of Viet- nam on May 12, 1964 and authorized for award to members of the United States Armed Forces by the Department of Defense on June 20, 1966. To qualify for award, personnel must meet one of the following requirements: (1) Have served in the Republic of Viet•nam for 6 months during the period from March 1, 1961 to March 28, 1973. (2) Have served outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam and con•tributed direct combat support to the Re•public of Vietnam and Armed Forces for six months. Such individuals must meet the cri• teria established for the Armed Forces Ex•peditionary Medal (Vietnam) or the , dur- ing the period of service required to qualify for the Repub•lic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. (3) Have served for less than six months and have been wounded by hostile forces, captured by hostile forces, but later escaped, was rescued or released or killed in action.

Vietnam Campaign Medal - Special Eligibility Rules

Special eligibility rules for the Vietnam Campaign Medal were established for personnel assigned in the Republic of Vietnam on January 28, 1973. To be eligible for the medal, an individual must have served a minimum of 60 days in the Republic of Vietnam as of that date or have completed a minimum of 60 days ser•vice in the Republic of Vietnam during the period from January 28, 1973 to March 28, 1973, inclusive. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Military Medal is a white six-pointed star with cut lined, broad gold star points between and a central green disk with a map of Vietnam in silver surmounted with three painted flames in red, signifying the three regions of Vietnam. The reverse contains the inscrip­tion, “VIET-NAM” in a lined circle in the center with the name of the medal inscribed in Vietnamese text at the upper and lower edges separated by many short lines. The device, an integral part of the award, is a silver ribbon 28mm long on the suspension ribbon and 15mm long on the service bar inscribed, “1960- ” and was evidently intended to include a terminal date for the hostilities. Many examples of this medal are found with de•vices inscribed with other dates but the only version authorized for U.S. personnel is the one described herein.

LADIES AUXILIARY UNIT 275 The ladies have been busy planning and doing! Their commitment to visiting the residents of Regency Manor contin- ues. Playing Bingo, fellowshipping and appreciating these residents brightens their days each time!

GREAT JOB LADIES!

Vietnam Service Medal Service: All Services; Instituted: 1965; Dates: 1965-73

Vietnam Service Medal Criteria: Service in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, or during the above period. Prior to issuance of this award in November 1965, the Armed Forces was given to those who served in Vietnam. After that period, it is the veteran's choice to exchange the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the Vietnam Service Medal. It is the military's policy that you cannot have two medals to recognize service in the same action. There were 17 campaigns during the . Devices: All Services: Bronze, ; Army: Bronze Arrowhead; Navy: Bronze Marine Corps device The Vietnam Service Medal is often abbreviated VSM on a DD214.

Vietnam Service Medal - Overview Authorized by executive order on July 8, 1965 for U.S. military personnel serving in the Vietnam Theater of Opera- tions after July 3, 1965 through March 28, 1973. Personnel must have served in Vietnam on temporary duty for at least 30 consecutive/60 nonconsecutive days or have served in combat with a unit directly supporting a military op- eration in Southeast Asia. Military personnel serving in Laos, Cambodia or Thailand in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for this military medal. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was awarded for earlier service in Vietnam from July 1, 1958 to July 3, 1965, inclusive; personnel receiving that award may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, but are not authorized both awards for Vietnam service. The front of the medal depicts an oriental dragon behind a grove of bamboo trees; below the base of the trees is the inscription, “REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE.” The reverse of the medal depicts a crossbow with a torch through the center and contains the inscription, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along the bottom edge. The colors of the suspension drape and rib- bon suggest the flag of the Republic of Vietnam (the red stripes represent the three ancient Vietnamese empires of Tonkin, Annam, and Cochin China) and the green represents the Vietnamese jungle. Bronze and silver stars are au- thorized to signify participation in any of the 17 designated campaigns during the inclusive period.

Designated campaigns for the Vietnam Service Medal are as follows: Army and Naval Services: • Vietnam (VN) Advisory, 1962 - 1965 • VN Defense, 1965 - 1965 • VN Counteroffensive Campaign, 1965 - 1966 • VN Counteroffensive Campaign Phase II, 1966 -1967 • VN Counteroffensive Campaign Phase III, 1967 - 1968 • TET Counteroffensive, 1968 • VN Counteroffensive Campaign Phase IV, 1968 • VN Counteroffensive Campaign Phase V, 1968 • VN Counteroffensive Campaign Phase VI, 1968 - 1969 • TET69 Counteroffensive, 1969 • VN Summer - Fall 1969, 1969 • Vietnam Winter - Spring 1970, 1969 - 1970 • Sanctuary Counteroffensive, 1970 • VN Counteroffensive Campaign Phase VII, 1970 - 1971 • Consolidation I, 1971 • Consolidation II, 1971 - 1972 • Vietnam Cease-Fire Campaign, 1972 - 1973 Air Force: • Vietnam (VN) Advisory, 1961 - 1965 • VN Defense, 1965 - 1966 • VN Air Campaign, 1966 • VN Air Offensive Phase I, 1966 - 1967 • VN Air Offensive Phase II, 1967 - 1968 • VN Air/Ground Campaign, 1968 • VN Air Offensive Phase III, 1968 • VN Air Offensive Phase IV, 1968 - 1969 • TET 69/Counteroffensive, 1969 • VN Summer-Fall, 69, 1969 • VN Winter-Spring, 1969 - 1970 • Sanctuary Counteroffensive, 1970 • Southwest Monsoon, 1970 • Commando Hunt V, 1970 - 1971 • Commando Hunt VI, 1971 • Commando Hunt VII, 1971 - 1972 • Vietnam Cease-Fire, 1972 - 1973 Current Post Officers: Commander—Wayne R. Lohmoeller, 1st Vice Commander—Bill Schneider, 2nd Vice Commander—Rusty Mardis, Chaplain—Melinda Mills, Adjutant—Tom Frye, Finance Officer— Andrew Elder, Service Officer—Vinh Truong, Sergeant at Arms— John Mills and Executive Committee Director—Bill Barley

Elections are coming! Nominations will be accepted at this meeting and up to the election meeting in April.

It’s a voting year! Come out, Nominate, and Vote!

Thank you to all of you who dedicate your time to our Post and what we believe in and plan and try to accomplish!

Our future is going to be great! We are on the move for the good of our Veterans, our Families and for our Country!

The Vietnam War to me— I was a child when the U.S. involvement in Vietnam started. I didn’t know any- thing about it, I was six years old. I do not remember anyone really talking about it. Then came middle school—there seemed to be as I remember seeing and hearing more of what was happening. That was probably 1968—1969, families were talking more and more of what was going on with Vietnam and what was going on in the United States. I don’t remember my Uncle Alan joining the Air Force and leaving Kentucky for South- east Asia. But I remember vividly when he came home from the war. I was really proud of him (I had no clue why really) but he stood there in his uniform and thought he was a hero. I remember having to write a paper in 7th or 8th grade and I wrote about the war happening in Vietnam. The news was showing some horrifying pho- tos of what the war was like. I don’t remember being scared or worried back then (I was still a kid). I remem- ber not being able to ride my bike down the one end of Leslie Avenue because there were hippies living in be- tween our house and Earl Avenue (on the opposite side of the street). I wanted to go past there so bad to see. They partied out in the front yard and driveway (seemed like) everyday. But I didn’t, and the hippies didn’t live there very long. Probably were forced to move out due to too many neighbors complaining about the noise and trash. In 1971 we moved to the “country”; Independence, KY! We had a garden, cows, pigs, hay and tobacco; a barn, a mini bike and tri-wheel John Deere, chickens and a huge strawberry patch. Was there a war? Was the U.S. involved? I don’t remember remembering it then. I do remember the news and all the reports of protests against the war. I graduated in 1976 almost a year after the Vietnam War ended. I didn’t know anyone who died in the war. I didn’t know anyone who knew anyone who died in the war. That’s what I remember about the Vietnam War. As I myself joined the military I became more aware of the sacrifices of our Vietnam War Veterans. I am sorry for not showing appreciation for you back then. I am not sure I knew what I was suppose to do about it back then. But I came to realize the pain of your fight over there and from when you came home. I can’t change any of that. But, I can say to you, “Thank You!”, I can say, “Welcome Home!”, I can say, “You Are Heroes!”, I can say, “I Appreciate Your Sacrifices and Am Sorry You Had to Endure Them!” We are hop- ing to theme our year of events and activities toward welcoming home Vietnam Veterans. I hope we can do a good job for you and show our grateful appreciation! God Bless You All! Thank You for Your Service!

Regards, Wayne R. Lohmoeller, Commander