January 2018

Post Newsletter WesternSpringsVFW.org

Commander’s Stuff By Joe Barker [email protected] Save the Dates

Jan. 9th – 7:30 p.m. Post Regular As we move into the New Year, we meeting at Grace Lutheran Church have much to look forward to as our Post Jan. 11th – Hospital Visit continues a long tradition of service to Jan. 12th – deadline for February all. This month, our Voice of Democracy newsletter winners are recognized along with the Feb. 13th – 7:30 p.m. Post Regular other Posts’ winners. It is always meeting at Grace Lutheran Church inspiring to hear their recitations. Their thoughtful essays help underscore their bright future. Quartermaster Report Before you know it, we’ll be in full By Mike Winner Poppy Day and Memorial Day parade (708) 829-0069 mode. Any ideas on how we can further [email protected] your already impressive efforts are always welcome. Statement of funds as of 12/12/17: I hope you had a wonderful holiday Post General Fund $17,912.01 season, and the festivities continue for Post Relief Fund 3,237.14 you and your families. TOTAL: $21,379.15

Healthy New Year’s Resolutions We’ve donated $625 in gifts to the Hines veterans last month, and we continue to Be a little nicer to yourself. fund the Wakerly Scholarship Fund. Thanks for all you do! Aim to stay more in the present rather than racing through to-do Happy New Year! lists.

Take a walk after one meal a day.

Source: Real Simple SVC/Service Officer Stuff from "The Tonight Show with Johnny By Chuck Bosko Carson": His guest was Lee Marvin. (708) 205-3541 [email protected] Johnny said, ‘Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in 2018! One more time - 2018! Weren’t the initial landing at Iwo Jima and that we supposed to be on Mars by now, during the course of that action you living like the Jetsons, and having a pill earned the Navy Cross and were with water and calling it supper by now? severely wounded.’ Anyway, Happy New Year! Seems to be a rather thin line at times ‘Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the as to what may constitute information bottom and they gave me the cross for from a service officer or a Senior Vice securing a hot spot about halfway up Commander, so until a designated Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot service officer happens along, I will up on a mountain is guys getting shot simply combine information. hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo, I When I read the following, I must have served under the bravest man I ever omitted the author unintentionally. knew. ... We both got the Cross the same Hence, I am not sure who penned the day, but what he did for his Cross made following, but do enjoy: mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red “Some people have been a bit offended beach and directed his troops to move that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a forward and get the hell off the beach. grave alongside 3- and 4-star generals at Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds Arlington National Cemetery. His landing everywhere, and he stood there marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and as the main target of gunfire so that he service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a could get his men to safety. He did this guy who was only a famous movie star on more than one occasion because his who served his time, why the heck does men's safety was more important than he rate burial with these guys? Well, the his own life. That Sergeant and I have following is the amazing answer: I been lifelong friends. When they brought always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't me off Suribachi, we passed the know the extent of his Marine Corps Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it experiences. In a time when many to me, lying on my belly on the litter and Hollywood stars served their country in said, ‘Where'd they get you Lee?’ ‘Well the armed forces often in rear echelon Bob.... if you make it home before me, posts where they were carefully tell Mom to tell the truth. Johnny, I'm protected, only to be trotted out to not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the perform for the cameras in war bond bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine name is Bob Keeshan. You and the hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo world know him as Captain Kangaroo.’ Jima. There is only one higher Naval award - the Medal of Honor! If that is a On another note, there was this wimpy surprising comment on the true character little man on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. of the man, he credits his sergeant with Rogers is another of those you would an even greater show of bravery. Dialog least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. 214 info on it. I applied and am Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat- interested in what the card will look like. proven in Vietnam with over 25 Still further, continuing the Medals confirmed kills to his name. He wore a feature. China is this month’s entry. long-sleeved sweater on TV to cover the China? Yes sir/ma’am! China! I am many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. familiar with the incidents following He was a master in small arms and hand- WW II, but not the period of 1937-1939. to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in This is interesting reading. And a heartbeat. remember, individuals serving in either After the war, Mr. Rogers became an period are eligible for the VFW. ordained Presbyterian minister and Okay, here’s one for all vets who therefore, a pacifist. Vowing to never served in Germany, especially in Berlin harm another human, he also dedicated during the days of the wall: During the the rest of his life to trying to help lead days of the wall, there was an older gent children on the right path in life. He hid who crossed the checkpoint every week away the tattoos and his past life, and pushing his bicycle and carrying a heavy won our hearts with his quiet wit and sack. The East German border guard charm. suspected him of smuggling so would America's real heroes don't flaunt what search the sack but never found anything they did. They quietly go about their worthwhile. After the wall came down, day-to-day lives, doing what they do the guard saw the older gent and just had best. They earned our respect and the to ask him about those days: “Look, I freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around know you were smuggling something all and see if you can find one of those those years, but I could never prove it. heroes in your midst. Often, they are the Tell me what it was.” The older gent ones you'd least suspect, but would most looked the guard in the eyes, smiled and like to have on your side if anything ever said, “Bicycles.” happened. Take the time to thank anyone that has Hospital Chairman Report fought for our freedom. With By Walt Bergenthal encouragement, they could be the next (708) 246-4858 Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers. Pass this story around. Nothing will happen to In addition to our monthly bingo party you if you don't, but if you do, you will at Hines Hospital Spinal Injury Ward be awakening others to what makes a where we give out $150 in cash prizes, HERO.” Bruce Harken, Seedy Ulrich and Walt Bergenthal distributed Christmas cards Further, elsewhere in this newsletter is containing $25 to each patient in this a new program from the VA. A national ward. veterans card has been introduced. To be Speaking of Christmas cards, we will the first kid on your block to acquire one need some for next year, so if you have of this super duper cards, just follow the any to spare bring them to a Post instructions on the info sheet. Mind you meeting or drop them off at the back now, this card is not some secret decoder door of Walt’s house. We also need or provides you with X-ray vision. It is a paperback books for Hines. card that basically has some of your DD