Silicon Valley Chapter Military Ofcers Association of America
Volume XVI Issue 3 The
Social Hour: 11:00 AM Luncheon: 11:45 AM Luncheon is $26.00 See Back Page for Reservations MOAA Headquarters, Alexandria, Virginia Form and Directions The chapter’s March luncheon speaker will be CDR John Chernoski, USNR (RET), Member, Emeritus, MOAA Board of CALENDAR OF EVENTS Directors, who while on active duty served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer 7 Mar Board Meeting 10:30 AM assigned to Naval Legal Service Office, 21 Mar Luncheon 11:00 AM Philadelphia, and Naval Support Activity, 4 Apr Board Meeting 10:30 AM Philadelphia. He served on the National MOAA Board of Directors from 2013 to 18 Apr Luncheon 11:00 AM 2018 with assignment in part to the Board’s Renew your membership see Pg 23 cont'd pg 3 PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Hi All, My daughter and son-in-law dropped by to see us a few days ago. She had an announcement. Before I get to that, I want you to know that I did not plan my life. It just happened. I graduated from University of Georgia and then volunteered for Vietnam. Two tours. Green Beret Captain. I got out in 1969 and flew home. At the Atlanta airport a hippy spit on my boots. I went home that night and told my mom I couldn’t stay here; I might hurt somebody. A week later I was gone, back to Asia, for 14 years. I got a job in Saigon as a civilian for a year. Then to Hong Kong for OFFICERS, BOARD, AND CHAIRS three years. Then to Manila. I went back to school and got my master’s and my PRESIDENT:Cpt Charles McDougald USA PhD. I got involved with a group that helped overthrow President Marcos in 415-722-1009 1st VP: Cpt Charles McDougald Interim USA 1986. My contribution was a book, The Marcos File. President Aquino was 415-722-1009 2nd VP:CAPT John Hassenplug, USN elected and she appointed my friend, Dr. Noel Soriano, director of national 650-224-7638 security. I worked for him for two years and wrote a second book, Asian Loot. Secretary: COL Warren Enos Interim AUS 408-245-2217 It was about my two years as a treasure hunter. Treasurer: CAPT Keith Ott Interim USN 530-219-2404 But I digress. Back in 1984, while writing The Marcos File, my hotel Past President: CAPT Gil Borgardt USN 650-342-1270 room in Manila was raided. I was arrested and taken to Camp Crame. After I promised to destroy my manuscript and not write about Marcos, they released DIRECTORS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS CALMOAA me the next day. (I forgot to tell them I had another copy back in the States.) CAPT Gil Borgardt USN 650-342-1270 Chaplain Escorted by two men in uniform and two in plain-clothes, I was taken to the Col Don Bradley USAF 650-592-0915 Chapter Outreach airport. I spied a lovely young lady in line at the ticket counter. I went over, CWO5 Robert Landgraf USMC 408-323-8838 took her ticket, and got her boarding pass, all the while chatting her up. I flew Commissary/Exchange Advisory vacant home. Back in San Francisco I convinced her to go out to dinner with me. She Friends-in-Need (FIN) Program CDR Al Mouns USN 408-257-5629 agreed and took her brother along as chaperone. We dated for three years and Navy League Liaison got married in 1987. That day in the airport she thought I was a VIP, being LCDR Tom Winant USN 650-678-7120 Membership/Recruitment escorted by four men of authority. I neglected to tell her for several years that I CAPT John Hassenplug, USN 650-224-7638 Personal Affairs was not a VIP, that, in fact, I just got out of prison. CAPT Robert French USN 650-549-8896 Programs Ashley was born in 1990 and Campbell in 1993. We’ve had a good Cpt Charles McDougald USA 415-722-1009 nd ROTC life. We celebrated our 32 wedding anniversary a few weeks ago. Last week CWO4 Patrick Clark USA 831-402-8548 Ashley and Justin dropped by and announced they were having a baby, due on Surviving Spouse Liason LtCol Charlene Lee USA 510-427-7145 September 3. That means I will become a grandfather at age 78. I probably Scholarship Capt Gio Picazo USAF 669-258-5057 won’t be around to watch the baby grow up. I don’t know what they will tell CAPT Paul Barrish USN 408-356-7531 Travel (Space-A Advisory) him/her about me. I was somewhat of a vagabond, somewhat restless, that vacant wound up fighting in a war in Vietnam and then a revolution in the Philippines, Veteran Affairs LtCol Neil Miles USAF 408-929-1142 then going on a treasure hunt looking for billions in gold. I just hope they will Web Master LtCol Mike Sampognaro USAF 408-779-7389 say I loved my country and, like my father in 1917, I fought for it. Sergeant at Arms vacant God bless America. Strategic Planning NEVER STOP SERVING Capt David Down ARNG 408-202-9360 Legislation CHUCK LtCol Neil Miles USAF 408-929-1142
The Chapter Board meets at the Moffett Field Museum, Moffett Federal Airfield, the first Thursday of the month WELCOME NEW MEMBERS at 10:30am. COL John K. Buffin, USAF DIRECTORS EMERITUS LtCol. Jesse Craddock USAF 650-968-0446 CAPT Lloyd McBeth USN 408-241-3514
RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE (RAO) Travis 707-424-3904 In Memorium www.travisaf.mil tab Programs tab RAO Delphine (Del) Fontana, wife of COL John Fontana, USA, Bulletin Editor LtCol. Mike Sampognaro, USAF died January 20, 2019. see pg 16 [email protected] 408-779-7389
- 2 - MARCH LUNCHEON cont'd CDR Chernoski, retired in 2002 as a senior Councils & Chapters Committee. His illustrated deputy attorney general, is highly qualified to offer presentation will likely include a commentary about a description of the current environment in and the changing political scene in the nation’s capital, around Washington, D. C, and at the MOAA stories out of his experience, as well as an overview headquarters building. He’s likely to describe of the association and its mission, specifically the some of his experiences working with MOAA perceived challenges coming in 2019. This national executives as well as legislators of both political MOAA speaker fulfills the association’s promise to parties, and even speculate on the future level of update chapter members every four years; a support for association members. He is in a summary of the importance and value of MOAA position to tell what MOAA does for retired membership including potential returns at the up- officers and their families, a topic of particular close, immediate, and personal level might prove interest to chapter members with clear useful. recollections of the association’s work and MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential achievements prior to the time it moved away from association of military officers. It is a powerful its focus as an organization exclusively for retired force speaking for a strong national defense and officers and their families. represents the interests of military officers and their America has been experiencing massive families at every stage of their careers. cultural change, described in part in 1976 with the On the Potomac River within eyesight of publication of Vance Packard’s book A Nation of Washington, D. C., Alexandria, VA is nationally Strangers; in 2000 Bowling Alone: The Collapse recognized for its rich history and beautifully and Revival of American Community by Robert preserved 18th and 19th-century architecture—and Putnam; and more recently in 2012 Coming Apart extraordinary backdrop for acclaimed, chef-driven by Charles Murray, all of which describe an restaurants; a thriving boutique scene; vibrant arts uprooting and fragmentation of the society and culture; and a welcoming, walkable lifestyle. In whereby huge numbers of people no longer have 2018 it was named as one of the South’s prettiest an interest in or need for joining and participating cities. Old Town Alexandria is the site of MOAA’s actively with organizations, resulting in a negative late March or April Councils and Chapters annual impact on chapter membership numbers. As a past conference which brings MOAA leaders from all president of MOAA's New Jersey Lakes and Pines over the country to an all-day Wednesday “Storming Chapter and the Green Valley (Ariz.) Chapters, the Hill” event, which literally places more than 100 CDR Chernoski has a unique capability to explain carefully prepared members on Capitol Hill and in what is going on and perhaps offer ideas on how to Senate and House offices, to meet lawmakers and achieve success, grow the chapter, and interest encourage passage of legislation designed to meet members in leadership roles, at this time of specific needs. extraordinary change. Commander Chernoski received his bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., in 1973 and his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1976. Upon his release from active duty in 1980, he affiliated with the Naval Reserve, serving in various units until he retired in 1996. He worked for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Law for more than two decades, concentrating on administrative law and charitable trust matters. He retired in 2002 as a senior deputy attorney general. ______Old Town Alexandria SOURCE: Biography
- 3 - FEBRUARY LUNCHEON SPEAKER his first life lesson. After 150 trips around the world aval intelligence officer Michael Holmes and a potentially serious medical issue, Dr. Jac Nhas been on some tough missions--Top retired and over time wrote 12 books and more than Gun sniper, Vietnam combat, Hong Kong death 300 articles. squad, Shanghai arrest, all the time wondering if In 1956 Dr. Jac entered the U.S. Navy Officer his beautiful, brilliant Grace will wait for him. Candidate School, expressed an interest in flight Michael is a spy for the U.S. Navy, an all- training but with declining eyesight was found not American, plainspoken, resident of North Dakota. eligible, and went on to Aviation Ground Officers Relishing the opportunity to travel the world, his School in Jacksonville, Florida and carrier missions take him throughout Asia Pacific: operations at Naval Station Mayport. Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Hawaii. One He then attended the Air Intelligence School reviewer wrote, “If you are curious what it’s like to at the Naval Observatory Washington D. C. where be a Naval Intelligence Officer carrying out he received excellent instruction in research, report missions in exotic places of the world, the book writing, and speaking, a skill base which served him Undaunted Lovers: A Tale of Forbidden Love by very well in the world of business. His first duty Doctor Jac is definitely for you. It includes station was NAS Barber’s Point, Oahu, Hawaii patriotism, military service-oriented details, action, where he served with Guided Missile Group – One intrigue—all that and romance, too.” (GMGRU-1) with Regulus missiles; in 1957 he was deployed aboard 10 carriers, 4 destroyers, and 2 submarines.
The chapter’s February luncheon speaker was The Regulus new chapter member Dr. Jac Fitzenz, Ph.D., who Dr. Jac made a number of Western Pacific provided an illustrated presentation about his own (WESTPAC) temporary duty (TDY) intelligence Navy and Human Resources (HR) experiences. tours centered at Naval Air Station Naha, Okinawa, He told about his early life growing up in the and traveled for intel center briefings to Yokosuka Midwest 1930s-40s, the era of the Great (cold steel), Taipei (joint command), Subic Bay Depression; WWII and rationing; and a college- (decal) and Hong Kong (No space available). Intel bound trip to California aboard the sleek Western missions included capturing a Vietcong Pacific Railroad streamlined passenger train communications outpost and bringing back the California Zephyr, knowing he arrived in the equipment, with a firefight on the way out; kidnap Golden State when he saw a palm tree. In June and torture of a Naval Intel Officer; and busting a 1940 he was called into his school principal’s black market ring at Camp Zuma, Japan. office and told he had all top marks, either 100% Naval Officer training and experience provided a or straight “A” grades. However, his math score base for development of human resources (HR) tools had to be lowered to 95%, and the principle and techniques, including the stages of measurement explained that no person is perfect, and that was and analysis; progression from yesterday to cont'd pg 5
- 4 - tomorrow, monitor to predict, and inside to outside; the basics of value management including cost, time, The San Jose International quantity, quality, and reaction, with the Airport Military Lounge demonstration of a recruitment program analysis. is available to active duty and reserve U.S. Dr. Jac has been recognized as one of the top five (5) military traveling on orders on a pre-arranged human resources professionals in Silicon Valley. basis. Located between Terminals A and B, just behind the U.S. and California flags, the lounge is accessed from the sidewalk, outside the airport terminals. The lounge offers snacks and beverages and features comfortable seating and tables, charging stations, books, Netflix and other subscriber-based TV. For more information or to check if the facility is open during your travels, contact Toni Hatfield at 408-392-3551 weekdays, or ask the information booth staff to check with Airport Operations. So far this calendar year (January 1 - And finally, Dr. Jac told of a travel memoir he February 20), the facility has been open for at wrote, 150 Times Around the World, in which he least some portion of 30 discrete days, hosting tells of fun times, dangers faced, lessons learned, more than 660 military personnel, traveling alone secrets uncovered, in 50 countries from Mexico to or as part of a troop movement of more than one Durban, Koblenz, and Venezuela. After 35 years hundred personnel, on any given day. traveling 50 states, 55 countries, and 4 million air miles it was time to get off the planes, close his business, and retire. Dr. Jac donated 50% of the book sales at our luncheon to our Chapter. ______SOURCE: Luncheon Speaker A BIG "Thank You" to luncheon attendees who provide their Snack Bar reservation form ... it makes the job of the luncheon manager a great deal easier when reconciling the attendance and receipts
The San Jose Vietnam War Memorial Ceremony will be:
Saturday March 30th At 12:00 noon Seating with TV We always appreciate the The facility is always in need of supplies for presence of all Veterans, family transiting troops and dependents. Contributions and friends. are appreciated, welcome and put to good use.
- 5 - A Navy Ship Sailed to Hawaii more complex tasks. "Autonomous vehicles will likely focus on and Back With No One on the 'dull, dirty or dangerous' missions sets and Board could operate around the world's oceans," Brintzinghoffer said. "For example, an autonomous vessel can conduct hydrographic survey missions, freeing manned ships to accomplish other missions." When the Navy christened the Sea Hunter in 2016, officials said it could change the nature of U.S. maritime operations. It uses a suite of navigation tools and automated lookouts that allow it to safely sail near other vessels in any weather or traffic conditions during the day or night. The Defense Advanced Research Projects The Sea Hunter, a 132-foot-long self-driving ship, made history by Agency led the design and construction of the traveling from San Diego to Hawaii's Pearl Harbor and back again vessel and then teamed with ONR for open-water without sailors aboard to guide its way. DARPA photo testing. A 132-foot-long self-driving ship made The project was fully transferred to ONR in history by traveling from San Diego to Hawaii's early 2018, said Bob Freeman, an agency Pearl Harbor and back again without sailors spokesman, when it moved into a "much more aboard to guide its way. security-sensitive area of research." The Sea Hunter, an autonomous trimaran Leidos is currently building a second Sea developed for submarine hunting and counter- Hunter hull, Brintzinghoffer said. The company mine missions, traveled thousands of miles was awarded a $43 million contract to start between San Diego and Pearl Harbor last month. construction on the ship that will build on some of Naval News was first to report on the ship's the first Sea Hunter's capabilities, Leidos breakthrough voyage. announced last month. Crew members from an escort vessel ______boarded the Sea Hunter for short durations to SOURCE: Gina Harkins, She can be reached at check electrical and propulsion systems, according [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter to a press release from Leidos, a science and @ginaharkins. technology company that designed and built the Sea Hunter. For most of the voyage, though, the ship was unmanned. "The recent long-range mission is the first of its kind and demonstrates to the U.S. Navy that autonomy technology is ready to move from the developmental and experimental stages to advanced mission testing," Gerry Fasano, the defense group president at Leidos, said in the release. The Office of Naval Research (ONR), which led the test transit to and from Hawaii, declined a request for an interview, citing operational security concerns. Dan Brintzinghoffer, with Leidos' maritime systems division, said the idea isn't to replace ships with vehicles like Sea Hunter, but to free up personnel aboard bigger vessels to take on
- 6 - PAWS FOR PURPLE HEARTS GET UP AND GO young soldier recovering from a A devastating combat injury sat dejected and How do I know my youth is all spent? depressed on the floor of his Palo Alto-Menlo Park Well, my get up and go has got up and went. Veterans Medical Center hospital room with his But in spite of it all, I'm able to grin future unclear. The pain, extending well beyond When I think of where my get up has been. his physical problems, was evident in his eyes. He Old age is golden, so I've heard it said, was approached by a very beautiful Golden But sometimes I wonder when I get into bed Retriever dog and it was love at first sight. It was My ears' in the drawer, my teeth in a cup, the beginning of a new and very positive chapter in My eyes on the table until I wake up. the young man’s life. He was about to be offered a Either sleep dims my eyes, I say to myself, chance to serve other soldiers by training a service Or is there anything else I should lay on the dog that will be partnered to assist comrades with physical injuries. shelf. And I'm happy to say as I close the door, My friends are the same only perhaps a bit more. When I was young my slippers were red, I could kick up my heels right over my head. When I grew older, my slippers were blue, But still I could dance the whole night through. Now I am old, my slippers are black, I walk to the corner and puff my way back. The reason, I know, my youth is all spent, The Menlo Park PAWS for Purple Hearts (PPH) My get up and go has got up and went. organization provides canine-assisted therapy But really, I don't mind when I think, I think sessions to Warriors with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury with a grin, (TBI) in partnership with the VA Palo Alto Of all the grand places my get up has been. Healthcare System (VAPAHCS). During this Since I retired from life's competition, therapy skilled personnel teach the Warriors to help I busy myself with complete repetition, train service dogs for fellow Warriors facing I get up each morning, dust off my wits, mobility challenges such as mobility impairments, Pick up the paper and read the "obits"", PTSD, and TBI. They start training and socializing If my name is missing, I know I'm not dead, the dogs at the VA when they are as young as two So, I eat a small breakfast and go back to bed. weeks old. The dogs go home with Puppy Parents ______on the weekend to help them acclimate to the local Source Col Harold Fonda USAF(ret) environmental community, and build their socialization skills. This helps make them better service dogs when they are ready to be assigned permanently to Warriors. Steve’s story is hard, yet it shows why Paws for Purple Hearts is so powerful. While in Iraq he befriended two kids and because of this they were murdered, hung from a tree for all to see. That sight, those two lifeless kids, his little friends, hanging from that tree is a sight that will never leave him. After his release he returned home to his cont'd pg 8 - 7 - wife and child. When his second child was born The Paws for Purple Hearts program relies his memories of the two kids from the war entirely on the generosity of supporters to haunted him, and he slipped into drinking and keep the doors open to the many Veterans trouble, which led to the breakdown of his needing help. In the judgment of board marriage. This story is not uncommon for members, PPH is a splendid organization and warriors with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder worthy of chapter support. Members who (PTSD). Then he got involved with PPH, he would like to make a tax-deductible donation warmed up to the dogs, he worked and cared for can include a check with a membership them, and his life was turned around. He is now renewal form or luncheon reservation form or able to live and enjoy his own two kids, simply send a check made out to SVC something he couldn’t do before PPH. MOAA and marked “for PAWS” and mail to Under the guidance of PPH instructors, SVC MOAA P.O. Box 2, Moffett Federal service members engage with the puppies. Airfield, CA 94035. Together they undergo an intensive service dog- training regimen, learning more than 90 The Paws for Purple Hearts (PPH) commands, while the veterans reintegrate into program embodies the motto, Veterans civilian life. Once training is complete, the Helping Veterans. service dogs are given to veterans who have ______sustained mobility-limiting injuries, and the SOURCE: Paws for Purple Hearts dogs reside for the rest of their lives with their new owners. For those men and women suffering from PTSD, the very process of training the puppies results in therapeutic benefits which can include less anxiety and depression, decreased dependence upon pain medications, greater sociability and a more positive outlook, and a mission-driven focus and renewed sense of purpose. To those with combat disabilities, receiving a fully trained service dog means having a new steadfast companion and a true partner in their recovery. It also translates to greater independence, as PPH dogs help out by performing tasks like picking up dropped items, tugging open and closing doors, and switching on lights. The dogs benefit from loving homes and the positive reinforcement received for playing such important roles in the well-being of their owners.
Love at first sight
- 8 - SACRAMENTO ADVOCATE in a leadership position on the council doing all we he CSCVC is the official California State do to advance legislation for Veterans.” T Commanders Veterans Council sanctioned by Section 73.4 of the California Military and Veterans Code, an organization which promotes the rights, benefits, and opportunities of veterans in the State of California. It is the official voice of California veterans. The Council conducts advocacy efforts in the State Legislature, Cal-Vet, the Cal Vet Board, the Dept. of General Services and other State and Federal entities and businesses concerned with veterans. COL Lorna Griess, USA (RET) Long-time MOAA Sacramento Chapter member and until recently CAL-MOAA VP, Legislation, COL Lorna Griess, USA (RET) currently serves as the Council’s recording Secretary. Veterans groups currently Council members include MOAA California Council of Chapters (CALMOAA); Association of United States Army (AUSA); Reserve Organization of America, formerly Reserve Officers Association (ROA); Vietnam Veterans of America; National Association of Uniformed Services (NAUS); American Legion; LCDR Art Curtis presents award American Veterans AMVETS); California Silicon Valley Chapter is affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs )CAL VET); Marine MOAA California Council of Chapters Corps League; Military Order of Purple Hearts; (CALMOAA) which in turn is a member of the National Veterans Foundation; American GI Forum; California State Commanders Veterans Council Fleet Reserve Association; National Veterans (CSCVC) and enjoys all the rights and privileges Foundation; American GI Forum; Fleet Reserve of membership. Any chapter member aware of a Association; National Veterans Foundation; need for new California legislation to advance Paralyzed Veterans Association; Scottish American the welfare of veterans can begin a grassroots Military Society; and, the Veterans of Foreign Wars. campaign by contacting the chapter’s legislative ______chair. See page 2 of The Bulletin. SOURCE: LCDR Art Curtis “We’ve also been expanding our reach to make more people aware of our existence and our importance to Veterans,” Curtis said. “This year, we were again a sponsor of the California State Assembly’s 12th Annual ‘Veterans of the Year’ award Luncheon in Sacramento, where Veterans active in supporting fellow Veterans are acknowledged by the legislators. We generally meet 3 times a year to conduct our legislative business: Sacramento, Fresno, and somewhere in Southern California. It is a great group of Vets from all over the state and I have enjoyed being
- 9 - SURVIVNG SPOUSE CORNER are two types of home care services: health care he Family Caregiver Alliance says 44 monitored by health care professionals and Tmillion family members and friends nonmedical. Both types involve expense. Medicare provide unpaid support to another person, and Medicaid and other health insurance plans offer which accounts for nearly 80 percent of all limited coverage for home care with restrictions. long-term care in the U.S. Even closer to home, Hospice provides services and therapies at home the Elizabeth Dole Foundation reports 5.5 to the terminally ill, enhancing their quality of life million family members and friends provide while controlling disease symptoms and restoring $15 billion worth of support a year to our dignity until death. Medicare Part A pays 100 nation’s service members who return home with percent for hospice care at an approved facility. The visible and invisible injuries and disabilities, VA pays 100 percent for hospice if the veteran’s VA some of which will last for a lifetime. doctor orders it. Caregivers can call the VA Many caregivers who work end up losing Caregiver Support line toll free at (855) 260-3274 or time, wages, career opportunities, and visit www.caregiver.va.gov to learn more. sometimes their jobs in order to care for the It is vital for caregivers to find healthy and service member. constructive coping strategies during the caregiving Caregivers can contact medical professionals journey. or area Agency on Aging personnel to have the ______care recipient’s needs fully assessed and to SOURCE: Surviving Spouce Advisory Committee determine whether the caregiver has the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to provide proper care. It is advisable to reassess the care plan every three to six months. Support and service options for home care include family and friends, and home- and community-based services, specifically adult day care, home health agencies, and hospice. Other paid options include sitter services and nutrition programs. The biggest drawback to most options is the caregiver is not with the care recipient constantly. Be sure to take a home inventory, including photos, when you bring any outside caregiver into the home. Some care recipients are able to remain independent with assistance from family, friends, neighbors, or church members. Make a list of your informal network of helpers and how to contact them. Adult day care works well for care recipients who cannot be left alone yet do not need 24- hour nursing in a residential facility. While adult day care incurs expense, it can provide needed respite for a few hours or days. Home care combines health and support services for continued at-home living as long as possible. The health and needs of both care recipient and caregiver determine services. A physician’s approval might be required. There
- 10 - Silicon Valley Chapter of the Military Ofcers of America Post Ofce Box 2 Mofett Field, CA 94035 www.svcmoaa.org
Dear Fellow Ofcer
I’m John Hassenplug of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the MOAA and I’m writing this letter to you to invite you personally to join our chapter.
We all share two things in common: an abiding interest in the defense of our nation and community. Te two primary means by which this interest can continue is at the national level and at the local chapter level.
Te benefts you can gain include: Scholarships for your children Support legislation in behalf of all veterans and their families Giving back to the community in which you reside Networking with fellow ofcers Staying informed of the latest local and national issues as well as well as changes to military benefts Purposeful camaraderie with every branch of service, as well as surviving spouses
Our chapter meets monthly for luncheons with noteworthy speakers as well as maintaining a dynamic website and publishing a monthly bulletin to provide the above benefts. We would be honored to have you as a guest at a luncheon to see frst hand our approach at continued service and camaraderie.
Our lunches are held on the third Tursday of each month at the Biltmore Hotel in Santa Clara. Please use the reservation form on the back cover and write “guest” in the total block.
Tere is a membership application on the inside back cover of this Bulletin.
I hope to see you at lunch. Warm regards,
John Hassenplug, Silicon Valley Chapter
Still Severing Together
- 11 - - 12 - Member’s Corner legislation impacting earned entitlements. CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS ADM William H. McRaven, USN (RET), once Commander of all U.S. Special Forces Operations and a 37-year Navy Seal, wrote that it was in Seal training that he learned the value of teamwork, the need to rely on someone else to help you through the difficult tasks. “For those of us who were ‘tadpoles,’ he wrote hoping to become Navy frogmen, a ten-foot rubber raft was used to teach us this vital lesson. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.”
Chapter officials make announcements about details of volunteer opportunities within the chapter and throughout the community, particularly VA facilities; there are opportunities to help fund and experience the joy of awards ceremonies of annual scholarships to local college and university junior and senior ROTC cadets and Navy Seals learn teamwork early others; family members, particularly the children This is the second in a Member’s Corner series of chapter members, are often eligible for of items on the topic, “What does SVC MOAA do scholarships; member recipient designated for its members?” Silicon Valley Chapter offers a donations to the chapter are processed with wide variety of services for those times when effectiveness and efficiency and often result in life’s vicissitudes, those changes of circumstances great personal satisfaction. or fortune, typically those that are unwelcome or When a member family crisis occurs, and if unpleasant, intrude and sometimes require major invited, chapter officials will bring a variety of and diverse responses. resources together in support of requirements. No Chapter members are often able to muster member will be alone; a carefully created team direct experience and assemble needed resources will be made available to help bring about in time of emergency, and those capabilities are successful outcomes. offered to all members and their families. The ______website offers full information about benefits so SOURCE: Membership Committee members can take full advantage of their chapter affiliation. See http://www.svcmoaa.org/. Membership offers the opportunity to help influence a positive national security policy; give back to the local general and military communities; enjoy making acquaintances and friends and the associated camaraderie, as well as networking at the monthly luncheon and other events; staying informed of local and national military issues, and in particular federal-state-local
- 13 - Riding AMTRAK Part 6 sandwiches, to chips, pastries, all kinds of drinks, SURPRISE SOUTH OF REDDING candy, whatever. But we sat at the depot for Note: This is the final installment of an extraordinary intercity rail trip quite a while, waiting for one last bus to arrive from Salem, Oregon to San Jose. After the southbound Coast Starlight from Klamath Falls, a straggler. train was disabled at Klamath Falls, OR the 250 passengers were aboard a fleet of busses headed to Sacramento where a train has been readied for the continuing trip to Los Angeles. Times are actual versus scheduled. 11:35amA/2:21amS The busses passed through Redding at the base of the Sacramento River Canyon: We were lucky to have a restroom on the bus. Finding two rest stops closed, the drivers arranged for us to stop at Corning, at a Petra store truck stop just off I-5. And, to the surprise of us all, a caterer was waiting for us, contracted by AMTRAK, with The Genesis locomotive with Horizon cars sandwiches, chips, drinks, bottled water, and much more. I had to admire AMTRAK’s 3:42pmA/6:35amS We finally departed planning and coordination on this one. Before I Sacramento and let me tell you, we made tracks found out what was going on, that all the food like I’ve never seen before. I estimate we were was complimentary, I ran across the street to doing at least 79 miles per hour all the way to McDonalds for a cup of senior decaf, $0.27. The Martinez, with track and roadbeds having been pleasant surprise upon returning to the bus was much improved over the past several years. mine. The sandwich was very good, tuna salad Davis at 3:58pmA/6:50amS. Emeryville at on a floured Kaiser, one of the few sandwiches 5:18pmA/8:10amS. Jack London Square remaining. Oakland at 5:33pmA8:35amS. I got acquainted with the conductor, a very tall, sophisticated individual in sharp uniform and top coat who finally admitted to me he didn’t know much about division points or anything else for that matter, especially since Union Pacific took over.
Corning truck stop 2:20:pm Arrived Sacramento, and the train was waiting. But a much different train and consist (car types). It was made up of two AMTRAK conductor Genesis locomotives, a baggage car, two dinette I asked him about sleeping quarters for the cars, and six of the older Horizon (commuter crew as the train continued overnight to Los type) coach cars. No sleeping accommodations Angeles and he simply told me there were none, for the continuing trip to LA, not for the that the crew members were creative and you passengers or the train crew going all the way. wouldn’t believe how comfortable they could Again, all food and beverages were free, make themselves in a reclining seat and with everything was complimentary, anything you only a footrest. wanted served on board from fried chicken, to cont'd pg 15
- 14 - 6:40pmA/9:55amS Arrived in San Jose, Diridon BASIC OFFICER TRAINING Station, just in time to purchase a Caltrain ticket he early autumn Armor Officer Basic Class to Sunnyvale, leaving at 7:06 and arriving at T#2 underway at Fort Knox, Kentucky had the 7:20pm. The AMTRAK train, made up of the recent West Point graduates and reservists as Horizon consist, finally got us to the South Bay students. The course consisted of a wide range of and San Jose just a little more than 9 hours off subjects including basic and advanced individual schedule. But it was an adventure and a half, a training, which in part involved marksmanship and wonderful experience, and more than worth the map reading, then small unit tactics, and later the money and time; I’m a traveler. technical subjects of tank warfare, medium and light Travelers and tourists, the difference between tanks, gunnery, communications, vehicle which is defined by motivation, both ride the maintenance, and the like. At times the instruction AMTRAK trains. Tourists are motivated by was intense, leaving little time to enjoy what the post personal bucket lists and the desire to check had to offer. things off; travelers are inspired by the journey, But the weather was beautiful, the wooded areas and although the destination is certainly were ablaze with the changing colors of the season, important, they are motivated by curiosity—the life in the standard WWII era wooden bachelor desire to learn, experience, and feel something officers buildings was just ok, there were lots of about the places they visit, the people they meet, activities at the officers club, and Louisville was and even their modes of transportation. Tourists only 31 miles to the north, where of course all the follow itineraries; travelers follow their hearts attractions of the big city could be found. A new and dreams. movie, Giant, with Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor ______and James Dean just began its run on the silver SOURCE: Trip log screen. As the months went by the weather started to change; there was a chill in the air and then the snow flurries began to fall, later dropping as much as four inches of snow on the ground. So it was an interesting experience for a California native to put chains on the tires and drive around exploring a late fall wonderland. During the week it was kind of a tradition to visit what later became known as a fast food restaurant on post and infrequently head down the highway to sample some very good fried chicken at a restaurant operated by one Colonel Sanders, a small place destined to grow into a worldwide chain. Classroom instruction, which operated eight hours a day, could become tedious; however, the field studies were much more interesting. Going to the tank range and firing the 90mm main gun rounds at a moving target was challenging; riding a tank through a canyon clutching a .50 caliber machine gun and being faced with the task of firing on and hopefully hitting a rising weather balloon was even more so. All the young lieutenants had a chance to become familiar with armored vehicles, and driving a tank over a tough course took a lot of skill. One very cold night a West Point Graduate and an ROTC graduate were sharing guard duty cont'd pg 16
- 15 - and the West Pointer looked at the other young Delphine C. Fontana officer and said, “What are you going to do November 9, 1930 - January 20, 2019 when you leave the Army?” The reply, “Probably go into business. Why?” “That’s too bad; not much opportunity for real achievement in life. When I leave this course I’m going to parachute school and the day I jump and land successfully I will have accomplished something very few men will ever do. One day I expect to lead men into decisive combat, and when that happens I will feel as though my life has been worthwhile.” The West Point officer was 2nd Lieutenant Delphine Fontana (Del) passed away Dave Palmer, Armor, USA, who later became peacefully in her sleep on January 20, 2019. Del a lieutenant general and over the course of his was born and raised in Santa Clara and is career served as superintendent of the Military survived by John, her loving husband of 66 Academy and commanded large bodies of years. Del was a devoted mother of Steve (Lisa) troops. and Stefani Fontana, grandmother of Scott Near Christmas the young reserve officer (Nicole) and Kevin and great grandmother of tramped through the snow to a bulletin board Kennedy as well as an aunt to many nieces and to find out his first troop duty assignment. He nephews and a sister of Marlene Vaughn. started at the top of the class roster, the last Del was active in the Santa Clara names beginning with “A,” and went down the Women's Club, the Miss Santa Clara Pageant, list reading Korea, Korea, Korea, Korea… the Santa Clara Auxiliary and the Women's Golf When he came to his own name the orders Clubs of Santa Clara and Sunnyvale. She was read, “5th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, also an avid San Francisco 49ers fan. Del loved California, and it was the beginning of a new golf and tennis and was on the Santa Clara High chapter in life, one closer to home where the School Tennis Team. In her later years, she took weather and conditions were perceived to be up golf with her husband and loved to play more favorable. bingo. ______Del was crowned Miss Santa Clara in SOURCE: Military Archives 1947 and Miss Santa Clara County Fair in 1950. Del met her future husband John in 1950 and married two years later on October 5th, 1952 upon his return from the Korean War. Del was a member of Saint Clare's Church where she was baptized and married. Del is preceded in death by her siblings Manuel, Mary, Celeste and John who are all truly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association (donations.diabetes.org) or to the Alzheimer's Organization (alz.org)
- 16 - The Battles of Firebase Six-Shooter Enemy commandos attack a Marine Outpost, are pushed back and attack again By Jack Wells, LtCol, USMC, Ret.
ear struck the heart of Marine 1st Lt. F Paul Buceti of H Battery when he saw a hand reach in from the darkness, pull back the canvas cover and toss a huge stick grenade with a sputtering fuse through the entrance of the small sandbag-walled, metal-roofed bunker where artillery calculations were made at Fire Sapper’s eye view of the base from the outside Support Base Six- Shooter. “I thought it was through the wire barrier over,” Buceti remembered. The lieutenant, penetrated, undetected, the defensive wire around shirtless and barefoot, wearing just his shorts, firebase Six-Shooter, about 5 miles west of the city rushed for the exit, as did the two other Marines of Da Nang. H Battery, 3rd battalion, 11th Marine in the bunker. Regiment, 1st Marine Division, had moved into the firebase about seven weeks earlier. The Marines had not yet completed their work clearing brush around the base to take away the cover for enemy infiltrators. Nor had they put in place the needed additional bands of concertina wire—barbed wire coiled and used as a barrier around the perimeter of a base. Once inside the base, the sappers — from a platoon of the 25th Sapper Company, part of the 31st NVA Regiment that operated west of Da Nang — hid under trucks in the motor pool behind the howitzer line, waiting for the start of coordinated hit-and-run attacks planned for U.S. facilities in the Da Nang area one week after the 24-hour Tet Lunar Howitzer at Firebase Six-Shooter was one of New Year truce that had started on Feb. 16. The the targets of the enemy “sapper” attacks were concentrated against Marine Lance Cpls. Fred Roach Jr. and Calvin installations around Da Nang, Vietnam’s second Soper escaped through one exit, and Buceti got largest city, but also hit other regions of the out through a different exit just before the country. grenade exploded. When the Marines left the Firebase Six-Shooter was a tempting target bunker, they were met by AK-47 assault rifle fire for the North Vietnamese because of its closeness from North Vietnamese Army “sappers,” to NVA base camps and staging areas farther west technically combat engineers but functioning as in Happy Valley and to the north in Elephant highly trained commando units. Roach and Soper Valley, both accessed from the Ho Chi Minh Trail dashed to the communications tent to alert the in nearby Laos. Marines there. Buceti managed to reach the Six-Shooter also stood in the way of an relative safety of a bunker used for H enemy advance eastward along Route 542 through Batexecutive officer, or XO. That bunker was Dai La Pass into the Da Nang area, which included the control center for the six howitzers that gave vital U.S. facilities such as the Da Nang Air Base, a the firebase its name, borrowed from America’s helicopter base southeast of Da Nang at Marble Wild West. MounAirfield, the headquarters of the Sometime before 2 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 1969, more than two dozen sappers cont'd pg 18
- 17 - III Marine AmphibForce and 1st Marine just a few miles north of Da Nang, and at Division, a Navy administrative and logistics Headquarters Company, 26th Marine Regiment, on support center, ammunition dumps, petroleum the northern slope of Hill 327. tanks and a prisoner-of-war camp. The firewas The sappers hitting firebase Six-Shooter had about 3 miles due west of the 1st Marine been instructed to kill all the Marines and take Division command post on the eastern slope of control of the six 105 mm howitzers. Information Hill 327 on Division Ridge and about a mile gained later from a captured sapper revealed that 40 west of the command post for the division’s 2nd to 50 Communist soldiers, trained in the operation of Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, near Dai La 105 mm howitzers, were waiting in a nearby tree line Pass. for a successful attack. They would then move into Observation Post Reno, on a the base, turn the guns around and use the battery’s mountaintop less than 3 miles west of Six- own ammunition to fire on key U.S. installations in Shooter, was attacked at 2:20 a.m., on Feb. 23. Da Nang. (During an Aug. 14, 1966, mission by 2nd Attacks on H Battery at Six-Shooter, the 1st Platoon, C Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Division command post on Hill 327, the 2nd into the “Charlie Ridge” mountains west of Da Battalion post and other sites started about the Nang, the recon team had found, concealed in a same time. jungle training camp for the VC, a full-size mock-up Deadly attacks in Da Nang area on February of a 105 mm howitzer constructed out of bamboo but 23, 1969 containing rubber tires. The elevation gears on the In those early-morning hours, NVA mock-up were made of metal and could function. forces also fired more than 50 of their 122 mm The recon team also found a 24-inch-long, 6-inch- rockets at the Naval Support Activity diameter wooden replica of a 105 mm shell.) command’s deep-water pier in Da Nang and the Lt. Buceti had been awakened around 1 a.m. Marines’ Force Logistic Command installations. by one of the Marines in the Fire Direction Center Eighteen 82 mm mortar rounds landed at Marine bunker that provided H Battery’s howitzer crews Aircraft Group 16 and the U.S. Army’s 212th with gun settings for accurate delivery of artillery Combat Support Aviation Battalion at Marble fire in support of U.S. troops or against enemy Mountain Airfield. Rockets and mortars hit the targets. The Marine asked Buceti to help him Da Nang Air Base, igniting four 10,000-gallon calculate firing data that the FDC bunker would send tanks of JP-4 jet fuel with a direct hit on a to the XO’s bunker, which then would relay the hangar for Marine All Weather Attack Squadron settings to the howitzers assigned to fire at sites 242. Also struck was a South Vietnamese where enemy rockets had been launched around ammo dump near the III Marine Amphibious 12:30 a.m., before the main sapper assaults started. Force headquarters, causing out-of-control fires Buceti recalls that dogs kept as mascots at the and secondary explosions. battery had been barking incessantly since late that Rocket attack at Da Nang Air Base ignited night. Several times he went outside the FDC bunker fuel storage tanks and peered into the darkness trying to determine During the attacks, a team of sappers what they were barking about. On his last attempt, overran the Marine Air Control Group 18 Buceti lay on the ground to get a look from that aviation radar site on Hill 347, overlooking the perspective, but he didn’t see anything then. Later, 1st Marine Division command post on Hill 327. back in the rear of the FDC bunker, he saw the Ten Marines from Headquarters Company, 1st sapper who opened the cover and flung in a grenade, Marine Division, died during attempts to retake a jungle-made version of a wooden-handled grenade the radar site before they succeeded on the third called a “Chicom,” short for Chinese Communists, try. the source for many of them. Buceti said the version Sappers also got inside the wire at of the Chicom thrown into the bunker was made Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 13th Marine from a large No. 10 fruit cocktail can (4 or 5 inches Regiment, at the Northern Artillery Cantonment in diameter and about 8 inches long) commonly used in Marine mess halls during the war. to be continued in April - 18 - CONGRESSIONAL ACTION PENDING Theater Destruction of Medical Records – By Captain Jerry E. Kromrey, USAFR (Ret) resolves that Congress enact legislation directing the presumption that the injuries and illnesses of Note: This is an update report on an on-going grassroots military personnel whose individual combat legislative action which includes testimony by SVC medical records may have been destroyed in Legislative Chair Lt. Col. Neil Miles, USAF-Ret. theater during withdrawal of United States forces from military operations in or near Kuwait and ongressman Ro Khanna (D CA-17 Silicon Iraq are combat related and service related. CValley) has reacted positively to a live Resolution 17-02 – In-Flight Injuries to forum by the local ROA chapter. Pilots and Flight Crew Members -- urges Congress to require that a presumption of service connection, medical discharge and disability pay be granted by the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, as appropriate, to former pilots and crew members who develop cervical or lower spine injuries or disabilities, and that when military records are not available, the disability should be resolved as a service- connected disability. Briefers and briefing subjects were: Captain Jerry E. Kromrey, USAFR (Ret.) – Facilitator “I was moved to hear the personal stories of Background History US military Veterans who struggle to file VA Brigadier General Gerald Griffin, Medical Corps, disability claims for service-related injuries that U.S. Army (Ret.) are difficult to document, oftentimes as a result of In Theater Destruction of Medical Records counterproductive medical record keeping Lieutenant Colonel Neil Miles, USAF (Ret.) policies. My office will be looking into legislation In-Flight Injuries to Pilots that will help them to obtain the services that they Lieutenant Colonel James McMichael, USAF need. Thanks to the Reserve Officers Association (Ret.) – Executive Vice President – Department for bringing this to my attention!” of the Golden West Thus, Congressman Ro Khanna – CA-17 – In-Flight Injuries to Pilots Silicon Valley – through his Facebook page – As of this writing – 13 January 2019 – the reacted to 45 minutes of testimony presented to impending legislation has yet to be drafted and him in a live forum by the local ROA chapter. introduced into the House of Representatives. In a On Saturday, 25 August 2018, in the City of 14 November 2018 meeting between Sunnyvale, California Senior Center, U.S Congressman Khanna’s Washington, D.C. Staff, Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Mr. Tom and ROA’s Legislative Director, it was agreed that Pyke, his Director of Constituent Services heard the legislation would be introduced once the new four briefings presented under the title, “Medical 116th Congress had been sworn in Claims without Medical Records,” sponsored by The coordination at this point rests on the ongoing Santa Clara County Unified Chapter GW/063 – engagement between the Congressman’s DC Staff Department of the Golden West. and the ROA Legislative Director. Captain The briefings extended the content of two ROA Kromrey will continue to attend Congressman Resolutions from the following words on paper to Khanna’s monthly town hall meetings to energize real life. The intention is that these words will the process from the Silicon Valley District. become language in Federal Law. The Chapter GW/063 forum was not the end. But Resolution 15-01 (now 18-07) – In- it was another essential step in the process. ______SOURCE: Capt Jerry Kromrey, USAFR-Ret - 19 - SAVE 15 %
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- 20 - CDR Robert Whitten, USN (RET) I left for San Francisco, then a service-friendly UNDERWAY TO THE YELLOW SEA city, on 9 September visiting overnight my Note: Chapter member Bob Whitten, Ph.D., Duke maternal grandmother in Chicago. Two days later University; graduate, California Maritime Academy; senior after arriving in San Francisco, I was ordered to physicist SRI International/Research Scientist NASA-Ames; board a giant Mars seaplane for a flight to Hawaii Associate Fellow American Institute of Aeronautics and (the most comfortable flight that I have ever Astronautics; and a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer, experienced). While in Hawaii, I waited for nearly shares experiences of his early years as a Navy reservist. n June 17, 1950 I reported on board USS a week for a flight to Japan. The Inchon landing O Snyder (DE 745) for a two week reserve occurred during the wait and those of us waiting for training cruise heading south from New York to our transfers believed that Truman’s “police action” San Juan, Puerto Rico. Several of us rented a would soon be over and we would be released to go suite at the brand new San Juan Hilton, had a big home. It didn’t happen that way. time with some young ladies in residence, and Anyway, I was finally assigned to an Air Force returned to the ship on Sunday morning. That “bucket seat” transport loaded with Army troops afternoon, 25 June, I had the duty and was bored bound for Korea. After landing at the old Haneda to death until one of my shipmates came running Airport near Tokyo, I was sent to the big base at up to the brow, shouting, “The Russians have Yokosuka. A makeshift BOQ with no showers had attacked South Korea!” Of course, it was not the been set up in a Japanese Navy warehouse. I slept Russians, at least not directly, but the North on a mattress on the floor, awakening all night to Koreans. brush away the cockroaches! The next day I was sent to another Martin seaplane for a short flight to Sasebo where I was given a bunk in the tender USS Dixie (AD 14) and could finally take a shower. It was there that I first met Ensign John Ward, a recent graduate of the California Maritime Academy. Two years later after being detached from the “Oz,” I relieved him as chief engineer of the USS Thomas F. Nickel (DE 587). To return to the story, the following day saw By the time we reached New York all of us me on a fleet oiler en route to the refueling area in reservists had heard President Truman’s speech the Yellow Sea. and knew that we would be called up. I had served for a year in an Atlantic Fleet oiler and was determined that I would not go back to an auxiliary ship. Three of us in our Buffalo, New York reserve division, one of whom owned a light airplane, decided that we would get assigned to destroyers by flying down to BUPERS and making the requests personally. After being assured that we would, we flew home and waited. Two of us did get destroyer duty, Lt. Jg. Dick Morris and me. The owner of the plane, Lt. Larry Lowe, became the XO of an amphibious support rocket launcher vessel. After once again bugging BUPERS, I finally received orders to the Oz (USS Ozbourn (DD 846) about 5 or 6 September 1950m USS Ozbourn, “The Oz” coincidentally with my promotion to “Jg.” cont'd pg 22 - 21 - After two days aboard the oiler, I was transferred SVC WEBSITES by highline to the USS Philip (DD 498) which took ur Chapter website is www.siliconvalleymoaa. me to the carrier force and transfer again by highline O to the “Oz.” In order to get to the USS Ozbourn, I org, a shorter link is www.svcmoaa.org. You can had flown on five planes, two civilian, two Navy and also get to it from the national MOAA site: Put one Air Force, and two ships. I was met at the the cursor over Chapters and select Chapter quarterdeck by XO LCDR Walter Ousey and Locator, CA, then Silicon Valley Chapter. From escorted to the wardroom where I was introduced to there you may link over to our primary website Captain Charlie Akers. His first words to me were, above. Our home page has links for The Bulletin and in his Tennessee drawl, “Mr. Whitten, I see that eBulletin. B you’re an engineer, but we do a little bit of everything. You’ll also stand JOOD watches.” TRICARE FOR LIFE I replied, “Fine with me, Captain.” I had gotten SERVICE what I wanted! Just over a year later, I met my wife For assistance, contact the Sally in San Diego. I tell my children and Wisconsin Physicians Service grandchildren that the “Oz” is the most important www.tricare4u.com ship in their lives because had I not been assigned to 866-773-0404 her, they would not be here. ______Members can report the death of a retiree through SOURCE: CDR Bob Whitten, USN (RET) the Retire Activity Office (RAO). The phone number is at Travis 707-424-3904 You can also notify a MOAA member’s death to: "A wee bit of alleged Irish humour to improve your MOAA, Attn: MSC, day!” 201 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314 After 10 years, the Irish wife started to think their -2539. kid looked kinda strange, so she decided to do a Or: Call 1-800-234-6622 DNA test. She found out that the kid was actually Or: E-mail: [email protected]. Notify SVC-MOAA from completely different parents. by phoning the Membership Chair–see listing on Wife: “Honey, I have something very serious to tell page 2 of The Bulletin. you.” Husband: “What's up?” Wife: “According to DNA test results, this is not our FREE Membership kid...” While members 90 years of age and older are not Husband: “Well you don't remember, do you?? When we were leavin’ the hospital, you noticed that required to pay annual dues, donations to one of the our baby had pooped its diaper; then you said: chapter funds (Scholarship, SVC, USO, PAWS) is ‘Please go change the baby, I'll wait for you here.’ always needed and much appreciated So I went inside, got a clean one and left the dirty one there.” Moral: Never give a man a job for which he is not qualified.
Murphy told Quinn that his wife was driving him to drink Quinn thinks he's very lucky, because his own wife makes him walk.
- 22 - Membership Application and Renewal Form ( Revised 10/17 ) Please complete form fully
Silicon Valley Chapter Military Officers Association of America Mail to: SVC-MOAA P.O. Box 2 Moffett Federal Airfield, CA 94035
Date______Annual Dues: $30.00 (Surviving Spouse - Emeritus - New member - Dues are not charged, donations gratefully accepted) Enroll Me As: New Member____Renewing Member____Emeritus( over 90yrs)__Surv Spouse___ Donations to SVC Fund $______Donations to Scholarship Fund $______Donations to PAWS $______Donation to USO $______(All Donations are Tax Deductible) Total: $______Make checks payable to SVC-MOAA and mail to above address.
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SVC Dues are due 1 January and are separate from National MOAA Dues. SVC Dues support the Bulletin and Administrative functions. Luncheons are self-supporting.
- 23 - Silicon Valley Chapter of the NONPROFIT ORG Military Officers Association of America US POSTAGE P.O. Box 2 PAID Moffett Field, CA 94035 SAN JOSE CA PERMIT NO. 1223
March 2019
LOCATION – BILTMORE HOTEL -- 2151 LAURELWOOD RD, SANTA CLARA, CA DIRECTIONS: Going North on Hwy 101: Exit at Montague/San Tomas, then Montague; then Right on Laurelwood. Going South on Hwy 101: Exit at Montague/San Tomas, then Montague, then Right on Laurelwood. ------Cut Here------Cut Here------****LUNCHEON RESERVATION FORM**** Deadline to reach SVC no later than 15 Mar. If you have not sent in your reservation form by the above date and still wish to attend, please call Keith Ott 530-219-2404 LUNCHEON PRICE - $26.00 Times: Social Hour 11:00 AM, Luncheon 11:45 AM Please reserve ______places for the 21 Mar Luncheon A TOTAL of $______including a donation of $______for (circle one) Scholarship, PAWS, USO, or undesignated donation Make checks payable to: SVC MOAA Mail to: SVC MOAA, PO Box 2 Moffett Federal Airfield, CA 94035-0002 RESERVE IN THE NAME OF: ______Telephone: ______MENU: Buffet - See pages 4 and 18 for details. NAMES OF PERSONS WHO ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PAYMENT: