1993 National Convention Issue
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1993 National Convention Issue iSunda£iS<y2iijjtJ222l Meet The Press Too fast, too far military reductions would weaken ability to respond America's ability to respond to situations Legion chief said Legionnaires attending as it did in the Persian Gulf War may not be the 1993 National Convention are sched¬ as successful if the military drawdown goes uled to vote on a resolution regarding plac¬ too far. ing U.S. troops under foreign commands. That's the message National Commander When asked what U.S. involvement Roger A.Munson delivered last Friday should be in war-torn Bosnia, Munson morning in a news conference with described it as a "European problem best Pittsburgh reporters. addressed by Europeans." "Desert Storm was a success militarily Also, Munson said the White House's and our casualties were low, evidence that decision against lifting the ban on gays our military must be doing something serving in the military and the new "don't right," Munson said. "The American ask, don't tell" policy was not entirely in Legion believes that kind of effectiveness line with what the Legion continues to seek: may be jeopardized if military reductions go codification of the ban that says homosexu¬ too far." ality is incompatible with military service. COMMAND CENTER-Nat'l Cmdr. Munson, a World War II Navy veteran, Munson said Legionnaires are wary of Munson fields questions from the said the Clinton administration should listen placing U.S. troops on foreign soil where no Pittsburgh media at his Friday morning news conference. to defense pundits such as Joint Chiefs of clear objectives have been defined. Staff Chairman Gen. Colin Powell, who has "If you don't intend to win a battle or VA health care will play in the soon-to-be cautioned against drastic reductions in man¬ war then you don't go in. It's that simple." unveiled national health care plan. power and other necessary military spend¬ As the 75th National Convention of The "It's important that the VA (medical sys¬ ing." American Legion is poised to get under tem) be an integral player in whatever plan "Naturally, we're concerned about our way, Munson told the media that conven¬ is offered," Munson said following the continued ability to handle two conflicts at tion delegates also would be concerning news conference. once," said Munson. themselves with the organization's ongoing Plenary sessions of the National In other related defense issues, the Ohio work in the POW-MIA issue and the role Convention will get under way Sept. 7. in Rapid City's first two runs on a first-inning double to left. Thomas’s offensive performance propelled him into a tie for the Rapid City team claims Click Cowger RBI Award, an honor Thomas shared with Allen Layman of Norman, Okla. by knocking in 16 runs in the series. Legion World Series title In post-game ceremonies, Legion tournament officials presented ROSEBURG, Ore.—Rapid City, S.D., Post 22 employed solid fun¬ Thomas with the RBI award, an event capped by his being named damentals and a potent offensive punch to win its first ever the 1993 George W. Rulon American Legion Player of the Year. American Legion World Series title, a 7-4 victory over Green Rulon was a dedicated Legionnaire who supervised the National Valley of Las Vegas Post 8. American Legion Baseball program for 26 years until his retirement Bill Frey tag pushed his record to 10-0 and won his second game in 1987. The award criteria is based on a player's ability, sportsman¬ in the eight-team, double elimination series by pitching Rapid City ship, citizenship and overall conduct. to victory in the series finale before 4,790 fans at Legion Field. Rapid City leftfielder Ryan Merritt posted a .490 average in First baseman Ben Thomas enjoyed a 2-for-3 night while driving regional and series play to earn the tournament's baiting average crown. 2 DISPATCH NATIONAL SECURITY Downsizing won't lead to hollow forces An administration official defended the pared to eight reserve divisions in the cur¬ training comparable to the level of readi¬ continued downsizing of the U.S. military rent force. ness that made victory in the gulf possible as both an economic necessity and a real¬ The Air Force will lose three fighter in 1991. In addition, the Department of istic response to the nation's revised wings, down from 16 to 13, and the Navy Defense currently is spending $ 15 billion a defense strategy. will deploy 346 active ships, down from year on "school house" training in the tech¬ "Right now, we have the best prepared 443 ships. The Marines suffered marginal nical and higher education fields. and best equipped military in the world, personnel cuts. Dom emphasized fair treatment for troops and the Clinton administration intends to Overall, personnel will drop from the 2.1 and their families will be maintained keep it that way," said Dr. Edwin Dorn, million on active duty in 1990, to 1.4 mil¬ despite the drawdown. assistant secretary of defense for person¬ lion by 1999, though Dorn vowed the "Because of the special demands of mili¬ nel and readiness. Pentagon will not repeat mistakes made in tary life, we have to be responsive to ques¬ Dorn, speaking to Legionnaires the post-Vietnam drawdown, when budget tions of morale and quality of life for mili¬ Saturday, said military readiness requires cuts affected readiness and yielded the so- tary personnel and their families," Dorn recruiting quality personnel, training them called, "hollow forces." said. to perform their missions, and treating Training will not slacken due to cutbacks, "Our message is, 'If you stay, we're going them fairly. Dorn promised. He said the post-Desert to treat your right, but if you leave we're He noted that despite cutbacks prompted Storm military is maintaining a level of going to treat you right, too.'" by a new defense strategy unveiled this week by Defense Secretary Les Aspin, American Legion distributed Kellogg's cereal threats to the nation's security demand Legion-RP coupon coupons to shoppers at supermarkets in 48 forces designed to meet an erratic world states. political climate. program a success A portion of the proceeds from cereal sales The biggest volunteer-driven supermarket "This administration is determined to go to the foundation to fund research into maintain a force that is ready to fight," promotion ever undertaken succeeded despite finding a cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa, a Dom said. some problems organizers expected in staging group of degenerative eye diseases. The "The military is drawing down, but such a mammoth promotion. American Legion Child Welfare Foundation we're still taking in 200,000 young men "We got tremendous nationwide publicity, it also will receive money from the project. and women a year, 180,000 enlisted and was a great opportunity to get the entire Legionnaires asked to evaluate the program 20,000 officers. We need that pipeline." American Legion family involved, and to returned surveys with their observations for DoD's "bottoms up" review plan for a fight blindness," said Bob Gray, executive improving the program. pared military places a premium on rapid director of the Retinitis Pigmentosa "The problems are something we can work deployment that will require extensive Foundation Fighting Blindness. on, but the areas where it worked, we found it sealift capabilities. Gray reviewed the program for Legionnaires worked very well. We found out June is not Saturday at a joint session of the National Over the next five years, the number of the best month to run this program," said Americanism and Children & Youth commis¬ Gray. According to Legionnaires surveyed, active Army divisions will drop from 14 sions at the convention center. For two week¬ to 10, with five reserve divisions com- 31 percent preferred conducting the project in ends in June, thousands of Legionnaires, April, while 17 percent opted for March. Only Auxiliary members and Sons of The 11 percent of respondents favored June. Nat'l Chaplain BLOOD DONATING Wagner to lead memorial service Sticking it to Legionnaires The Rev. James Wagner, Legion Legionnaires can roll up their sleeves here in Pittsburgh and give a gift that National Chaplain, will officiate at this keeps on giving - life. They can do it by donating blood in the lobby of the morning's Patriotic Memorial Service in David L. Lawrence Convention Center lobby. the East and West halls, level 2, of the The Pittsburgh Central Blood Bank will conduct a blood draw Tuesday and David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The draw began yesterday and numer¬ The service, which begins 11 a.m., will include the traditional wreath-laying and ous bluecappers lined up to donate. include National Commander Roger A. "The American Legion's visit to Pittsburgh is very timely because blood Munson National Adjutant Robert W. supplies tend to decrease around major holidays such as Labor Day," said Spanogle. blood bank spokeswoman Carol Ranallo in a recent interview with the Also joining them is National Dispatch. Auxiliary President Linda Boone and Legion donors will receive special recognition pins. The blood draw has SAL Commander Charles Grigsby, and become a staple National Convention event since its debut at the 1987 con¬ Eight and Forty Le Chapeau Nationale vention in San Antonio. Colleen Stephens. DISPATCH 3 Special Forces 'cocked pistol' ground, a variation on the logo used by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. to protect national interests SOF personnel work on the ground in northern Iraq protecting the U.S.