CANNON NEWSCANNON March 2014 NEWS Page 1 Francis Cannon VFW Post 7589 Manassas, Virginia March 2014

February 23: 8th District Commander Rick Raskin observes as Peter MacLeod, District 8 Youth Chair, presents an award to Peter Nosal, winner of the District 8 Patriot’s Pen contest for 2013/14. Peter is a 6th grade student at Auburn Middle School and was submitted through Post 9835, Warrenton.

In This Issue:  COLA Penalty Removed for Most  VFW Statement on Military Retiree COLA Vote  Benefits Fights Not Over  GMU to offer course on Vietnam this summer  Celebrity Soldiers  Upcoming Events  New VFW Store website

CANNON NEWS—2013 Clair B. Poff Public Relations Award for Most Outstanding Post Publication/Newsletter, VFW Department of Virginia CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 2 From the Editor Have you visited your Post website They are available to view online . lately? www.vfw7589.org Take a look... Its the best place to keep current with what’s going on at your Post. We Please contact me if you have any- update it at least once a week, and thing you’d like posted or have any often more frequently. comments or suggestions.

Recent additions include 14 new Rick Raskin episodes of “Operation Freedom” the [email protected]

monthly veteran interview show

broadcast on Comcast Cable and hosted by our own Steve Botello.

Commander’s Report

Most are not veterans and have never if warranted and not eliminated be- experienced the long period of sepa- cause another social program; not to ration from family and friends. The have their retirement entitlements long nights awake on an outpost, eroded; and most importantly, not

listening, thinking you hear some- just being ignored. thing—to have your mind play tricks on you. Sleeping, eating and existing Look at the list of candidates. Do not in a half water-filled foxhole. We vote because they are in office or a were there… nice person, but because they will protect the veterans of yesterday, the ...THEY WERE NOT!!!! young men and women of today, and those of the future. This year is an election year, it is If it not Congress, then it the DoD! If time to hold those who are in office Thanks for listening, it is not the Federal Government, accountable to protect the rights of then it is the Commonwealth of Vir- the veteran; to have their service- Ron ginia! related medical conditions properly diagnosed and treated in a timely Eliminating Veteran’s entitlements is fashion; to have the financial needs an easy task for the elected officials.

Francis Cannon Post 7589 P.O. Box 10206 Manassas, VA 20108 CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 3 Auxiliary President’s Report

Setup for Yard Sale 4:00 – 8:00 pm sition in your Auxiliary. The new April 26 officers will take their new positions Yard Sale 7:00 am – 2:00 pm after the Department Convention in April 27 June. We do want you to come to District 8th Convention – Culpeper the meetings and be a part of a great (2524) 1:00 pm – Elections organization.

The Auxiliary is planning another Yard Sale for Saturday April 26th. Donations can be received every Wednesday from 9-12 during Bingo and on the Friday during set up on April 25th from 4-8pm.

As always, please keep collecting the Campbell’s soup labels for the We have four months before the end VFW National Home for Children. of the current Auxiliary year. We are very happy to receive any Please assist us with some of the The Young American Creative Pat- labels from the public. Please bring events we have planed. The sched- riotic Art contest is under way. labels to the Post. ule below will have additional Brochures for this National contest events as they come before the have been distributed to the local The Department President Laine floor. If you have any ideas for High Schools. The deadline for Beckwith has been ill and I’m re- fundraisers we can do, please let me entries March 31st. We welcome questing each of you sent her a Get know. Also, if you know of any Home Schooled students as well. Well card. Her address is 41 Kings military family that needs assis- This is a Scholarship program and if Point Dr., Hampton, VA 23669. tance, we want to know about it. the student places first at the nation- We are here for them. al level, they will receive a $10,000 And as always, for individuals or scholarship. If you would like more family members who are ill or hos- March 31 information, please contact me at pitalized, you are in our prayers. Deadline for Arts and Department 703/361-8950 or by email at: Program reports [email protected]. April 7 All high school students are wel- Post/Auxiliary Meeting – 7:30 pm - come to particulate. Elections April 19 I would like to remind the members Commander & President Home- of the upcoming election in April coming at Mechanicsville at Post for the 2014-2015 year. We have 9808 several positions that needs to be April 25 filled. Please consider taking a po-

CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 4 Service Officer’s Report

Your Service Officers exist to help 703-659-0849 or just pull one of us you and your dependents receive aside and tell us a suggestion of ser- every benefit you are entitled to. vice that we can provide. Please do feel free to contact and speak any of us so we can provide Our number one goal is providing you with the help and assistance you the best service to our veterans and may need. their families. Please do not hesitate to speak to any of our Veteran Ser- If you know of anyone being provid- vice Officers and find out just what ed home care of any type please con- they can do for you! They are: sider advising them to contact us. They could be entitled to “Aid and Wayne Moore 1-703-361-5554 Attendance”. If you are a veteran Email: [email protected] in a care facility where you must have direct care or if perhaps you are Stephen Meade 1-703-408-0875 As we have all seen recently out of home bound and receiving direct Email: [email protected] Washington our pay, benefits and care please consider filing for this retirement is being seen as some- benefit. Our goal is simple here. We want to thing that can be taken away bit by take care of all our veterans with the bit by those in Washington. Please seek out and contact any of greatest level of service that our re- our Service Officers here at Post sources will allow. Thank you for Please take note of this and if you 7589 and ask about this. We will your service! can contact your representative, Con- assist you in filing for this benefit gressman or Senator, and tell them with the DVA and see if you qualify If you have any questions please feel not to take away any veterans bene- for it. free to reach us at our VSO phone fits. line of: 1-703-659-0849 or Email: Please also feel free to contact our [email protected]. We must fight together to keep what Service Officer Team at any time for we have earned and that nothing is questions, suggestions or other needs Thank you, taken from us. you may have at: Steven M. Botello [email protected] or call us at 1- Post Service Officer

Need help with filing VA claims?

VA DVS AGENT SERVICE 2nd & 4th THURSDAYS 0900 - 1500

Post 7589 9304 Centreville Rd. Manassas, Virginia

APPOINTMENTS PLEASE Walk-ins Accepted 703-359-1210

CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 5 Youth News and Notes

the MCAT exams Matthew’s Junior struggled a bit during his just com- year at college. He has set his sights pleted first semester at college. But on Penn State’s Hershey Park Medi- what I liked, he tackled his hardest cal School and wants to become a subject, Calculus II and got a 92 on medical doctor and he wants to in- his final exam. corporate his computer knowledge into his medical expertise. For in- And in the last paragraph of his letter stance, he has visions of designing to the Post he thanks us for his and programming robots for use in $200.00 scholarship award and says surgery. He also has looked at the that as an Eagle Scout he will contin- medical profession in different ways ue to uphold the Scout Oath and Law through his involvement in the Na- and continue to give back to society. tional Youth Leadership Forum. You know what? I believe him and Pete MacLeod, Youth Chair By now, you might be thinking that wish him all the luck in the world! this guy is a hopeless nerd who does nothing but sit in the library and study and dream up grand plans. It is not that often that young people Well, as far as I’m concerned , if this remember to send a thank you letter guy is a nerd, I want to be one too! after receiving an honor, prize or He not only has academic and medi- recognition from VFW Post 7589. cal ambitions, he is maintaining his A big exception arrived in the mail religious convictions at Penn State. last month from local Scout of the He joined the Pasquerilla Spiritual Year Matthew Zackschewski , now Center where on campus masses are a student at Penn State. held, and joined the choir there and plays the trumpet for the choir. A graduate of Westfield High School, Matthew is majoring in You must be wondering what Mat- Computer Science Engineering and thew did in high school? He gradu- has a goal of getting to Medical ated Magna cum Laude with a grade School. The path is not easy, get- point average of 3.92, just short of ting accepted to medical school is perfect. Like many freshmen , he extremely difficult and will involve

2014 Voice of Democracy Theme

“Why Veterans Are Important To Our Nation’s History And Future.”

2014 Patriot’s Pen theme

“Why I Appreciate America’s Veterans.”

CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 6 COLA Penalty Removed for Most

Thanks in large part to VFW's contained a grandfather clause that America ends its involvement in grassroots advocates for bombarding extends to those currently serving, Afghanistan, and future military re- their congressional offices with tens provided they were in uniform prior tirees will be required to serve just as of thousands of phone calls and e- to the end of 2013. The legislation long and perhaps sacrifice even more mails, Congress overwhelmingly does not, however, remove the pen- than their predecessors. It is in that passed legislation this week to elimi- alty on all future retirees who en- regard that the VFW will continue to nate the controversial one-percent tered the military after Jan. 1. Re- fight for a full repeal of the COLA COLA penalty on working-age mili- garding future retirees, VFW Nation- penalty, and we hope that this week's tary retirees. The vote Tues- al Commander Bill Thien said "the vote continues that conversation." day was 326-90 and the Senate vote world will remain a very dangerous Wednesday was 95-3. The bill also and unpredictable place even after

VFW Statement on Military Retiree COLA Vote

WASHINGTON (February 12, end of 2013, should they choose to as long and perhaps sacrifice even 2014) — “The Veterans of Foreign remain until retirement eligible. The more than their predecessors. It is in Wars of the thanks all legislation does not, however, re- that regard that the VFW will contin- our supporters in the House of Rep- move the penalty on future retirees ue to fight for a full repeal of the resentatives and Senate for taking who enter the military after Jan. 1, COLA penalty, and we hope that this quick action to repeal the one- 2014. vote will continue that conversa- percent COLA penalty on working- tion.” age military retirees. The Senate “The world will remain a very dan- today followed yesterday’s House gerous and unpredictable place even WILLIAM A. THIEN passage of a bill to eliminate the after America ends its involvement Commander-in-Chief penalty for current retirees and eve- in Afghanistan, and future military Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. ryone serving in uniform prior to the retirees will be required to serve just

CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 7 Benefits Fights Not Over The COLA penalty was a surprise and Retirement Modernization Com- members. provision in last December's Biparti- mission:  Eliminate presumptive service- san Budget Agreement. More sur- connected conditions for disa- prises could come in March, when  Change the 20-year military bled and ill veterans. the administration releases its fiscal retirement plan to resemble ci-  Lock out or increase fees for VA year 2015 budget recommendations. vilian plans. Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans. Back in August 2011, the VFW un-  Increase healthcare premiums  And lower or freeze military veiled its 10 for 10 Plan, which were for military families and retirees pay, similar to the recent three- 10 DOD/VA programs that we be- on TRICARE. year (FY 2011-13) freeze for lieved were under threat of elimina-  Increase pharmaceutical fees for federal civilians . tion or reduction to help pay for military families and retirees. (then) 10 years of war. Below are the  Reduce COLA increases. Become a VFW Action Corps mem- 10 programs, which are still on the  End government subsidies to ber today and help us stop the gov- radarscope based on present-day military commissaries. ernment from balancing the budget budget battles, the deficit, the contin-  Eliminate DOD elementary on the backs of veterans, service ued threat of sequestration, and the schools stateside. members and their families. Join us recommendations to be made next  Eliminate DOD tuition assis- at: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/ year by the Military Compensation tance programs for service signup.htm

GMU to offer course on Vietnam this summer

My name is Kristin Wood and I am war, as well as visiting a children’s anmar from May 22-June 18. Non- working on a faculty led study center that is supported by an Ameri- students are also welcome to come abroad program to Vietnam and My- can veteran group. I thought this on the program. anmar this summer, run through program might be interesting for George Mason University. The Vietnam veterans or their family Please feel free to contact me with course title is “Visualizing a Post- members, to see at first hand the any questions you might have. I have Conflict World” and it uses visual long journey of recovery from the attached the program flyer and you journalism to explore the aftermath war in Vietnam, with its environ- can find more information, including of conflict. mental and human costs that are still the program itinerary, on the website felt today. here. If you think the members … Students on this program will be might be interested in the program, I learning a lot about the The course is 6 credits and it takes would really appreciate if you could and visiting important sites from the place throughout Vietnam and My- share this information with them.

CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 8 How many people today National Cemetery, Sec. 7A Efram Zimbalist, Jr., US Army. next to Greg Boyington and Purple Heart for a severe have any idea who these Joe Louis. wound received at Huertgen men were that served Art Carney, US Army. Wound- Forest. ed on Normandy beach, D- Mickey Spillane, US Army Air and entertained us? Day. Limped for the rest of Corps, Fighter Pilot and Sterling Hayden, US Marines his life. later Instructor Pilot. and OSS. Smuggled guns Wayne Morris, US Navy fighter Rod Serling. US Army. 11th into Yugoslavia and para- pilot, USS Essex. Downed Airborne Division in the chuted into Croatia. seven Japanese fighters. Pacific. He jumped at Ta- , US Army Air Rod Steiger, US Navy. Was gaytay in the Corps. Bomber pilot who aboard one of the ships that and was later wounded in rose to the rank of General. launched the Doolittle Raid. Manila. Ernest Borgnine, US Navy. Tony Curtis, US Navy. Sub ten- Gene Autry, US Army Air Gunners Mate 1c, der USS Proteus. In Tokyo Corps. Crewman on trans- USS Lamberton. Bay for the surrender of ports that ferried supplies Ed McMahon, US Marines. Japan. over "The Hump" in the Fighter Pilot. (Flew OE-1 Larry Storch. US Navy. Sub -Burma-India Theater. Bird Dogs over Korea as tender USS Proteus with Wiliam Holden, US Army Air well.) Tony Curtis. Corps. , US Army. Forrest Tucker, US Army. En- Alan Hale Jr, US Coast Guard. Walter Matthau, US Army Air listed as a private, rose to Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy. Corps., B-24 Radioman/ Lieutenant. Battle of Okinawa. Gunner and cryptographer. Robert Montgomery, US Navy. Russell Johnson, US Army Air Steve Forrest, US Army. George Kennedy, US Army. Corps. B-24 crewman who Wounded, Battle of the Enlisted after Pearl Harbor, was awarded Purple Heart Bulge. stayed in sixteen years. when his aircraft was shot Jonathan Winters, USMC. Bat- Mickey Rooney, US Army un- down by the Japanese in the tleship USS Wisconsin and der Patton. Bronze Star. Philippines. Carrier USS Bon Homme Denver Pyle, US Navy. Wound- William Conrad, US Army Air Richard. Anti-aircraft gun- ed in the Battle of Guadal- Corps. Fighter Pilot. ner, Battle of Okinawa. canal. Medically dis- Jack Klugman, US Army. Paul Newman, US Navy Rear charged. Frank Sutton, US Army. Took seat gunner/radioman, tor- Burgess Meredith, US Army Air part in 14 assault landings, pedo bombers of USS Bun- Corps. including Leyte, , ker Hill DeForest Kelley, US Army Air Bataan and Corregidor. Kirk Douglas, US Navy. Sub- Corps. Jackie Coogan, US Army Air chaser in the Pacific. Robert Stack, US Navy. Gun- Corps. Volunteered for glid- Wounded in action and nery Officer. ers and flew troops and ma- medically discharged. Neville Brand, US Army, Eu- terials into Burma behind , US Army. rope. Was awarded the Sil- enemy lines. Dale Robertson, US Army. Tank ver Star and Purple Heart. Tom Bosley, US Navy. Commander in North Africa Tyrone Power, US Marines. Claude Akins, US Army. Signal under Patton. Wounded Transport pilot in the Pacif- Corps., Burma and the Phil- twice. Battlefield Commis- ic Theater. ippines. sion. Charlton Heston, US Army Air Chuck Connors, US Army. Tank Henry Fonda, US Navy. De- Corps. Radio operator and -warfare instructor. stroyer USS Satterlee. aerial gunner on a B-25, Harry Carey Jr., US Navy. John Carroll, US Army Air Aleutians. Mel Brooks, US Army. Combat Corps. Pilot in North Afri- Danny Aiello, US Army. Lied Engineer. Saw action in the ca. Broke his back in a about his age to enlist at 16. Battle of the Bulge. crash. Served three years. Robert Altman, US Army Air US Marines. Sniper. , US Army. As an Corps. B-24 Co-Pilot. Wounded in action on Sai- infantryman, he was severe- (Continued on page 9) pan. Buried in Arlington ly wounded at Anzio, Italy.

CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 9 (Continued from page 8) operator. Dennis Weaver, US Navy. Pilot. Pat Hingle, US Navy. Destroyer Charles Durning. US Army. Robert Taylor, US Navy. In- USS Marshall Landed at Normandy on D- structor Pilot. Fred Gwynne, US Navy. Radi- Day. Shot multiple times. . Tried to enlist oman. Awarded the Silver Star and in the Marines but was re- Karl Malden, US Army Air Bronze Star and three Pur- jected due to injuries sus- Corps. 8th Air Force, NCO. ple Hearts. Survived tained in US Army, World . US Navy. Lied Malmedy Massacre. War 1. about his age to enlist. Dis- Raymond Burr, US Navy. Shot Ronald Reagan. US Army. Was charged after a year when in the stomach on Okinawa a 2nd Lt. in the Cavalry they Navy found out. and medically discharged. Reserves before the war. Rock Hudson, US Navy. Air- Hugh O'Brian, US Marines. His poor eyesight kept him craft mechanic, the Philip- Robert Ryan, US Marines. from being sent overseas pines. Eddie Albert, US Coast Guard. with his unit when war Harvey Korman, US Navy. Bronze Star with Combat V came so he transferred to Aldo Ray. US Navy. UDT frog- for saving several Marines the Army Air Corps Public man, Okinawa. under heavy fire as pilot of Relations Unit where he Don Knotts, US Army, Pacific a landing craft during the served for the duration. Theater. invasion of Tarawa. . Declared "4F med- Don Rickles, US Navy aboard Cark Gable, US Army Air ically unfit" due to pre- USS Cyrene. Corps. B-17 gunner over existing injuries, he none- Harry Dean Stanton, US Navy. Europe. theless attempted to volun- Served aboard an LST in Charles Bronson, US Army Air teer three times (Army, Na- the Battle of Okinawa. Corps. B-29 gunner, vy and Film Corps.) so he Robert Stack, US Navy. Gun- wounded in action. gets honorable mention. nery Instructor. Peter Graves, US Army Air And of course we have Audie Mur- Soupy Sales, US Navy. Served Corps. phy, America's most-decorated sol- on USS Randall in the Buddy Hackett, US Army anti- dier, who became a star South Pacific. aircraft gunner. as a result of his US Army service , US Navy. Victor Mature, US Coast Guard. that included his being awarded the Served aboard a sub chaser Jack Palance, US Army Air Medal of Honor. then a mine sweeper. Corps. Severely injured One man from today's world comes Clifton James, US Army, South bailing out of a burning B- to mind; Pat Tillman turned down a Pacific. Was awarded the 24 bomber. contract offer of $3.6 million over Silver Star, Bronze Star, Robert Preston, US Army Air three years from the Arizona Cardi- and Purple Heart. Corps. Intelligence Officer nals to enlist in the US Army after Ted Knight, US Army, Combat Cesar Romero, US Coast Guard. September, 11, 2001 and served as a Engineers. Coast Guard. Participated in Ranger in Afghanistan, where he Jack Warden, US Navy, 1938- the invasions of and died in 2004. 1942, then US Army, 1942- Saipan on the assault 1945. 101st Airborne Divi- transport USS Cavalier. sion. Norman Fell, US Army Air Don Adams. US Marines. Corps., Tail Gunner, Pacific Wounded on Guadalcanal, Theater. then served as a Drill In- Jason Robards, US Navy. was structor. aboard heavy cruiser USS James Gregory, US Navy and Northampton when it was US Marines. sunk off Guadalcanal. Also , US Marines. Radi- served on the USS Nash- oman/Gunner in Dauntless ville during the invasion of dive-bombers. the Philippines, surviving a Fess Parker, US Navy and US hit that caused Marines. Booted from pilot 223 casualties. training for being too tall, Steve Reeves, US Army, Philip- joined Marines as a radio pines.

CANNON NEWS March 2014 Page 10 UPCOMING EVENTS March 3 Post general membership meeting—1930 March 9 District 8 Meeting - Post 3103 - Fredericksburg—1300

March 3 Post meeting—Nomination of officers for 2014-15—1930

March 15 St. Patrick’s Day Parade—TBD

April 7 Post meeting—Election of officers for 2014-15—1930

April 12 Recruiting Drive at J. E. Rice Hardware—0900—1300

April 19 Department Commander’s Homecoming— Post 9808, Mechanicsville

April 27 District 8 Convention - Post 2524 - Culpeper - 1300

May 5 Post meeting—Installation of officers—1930

Memorial Day Activities—Poppies, Manassas Veterans’ Memorial cere- May 23 - 26 mony and flag placements on veterans’ graves

June 2 Post general membership meeting—1930

June 5-8 Department Convention—Williamsburg