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June 2009.Pub VOLUME 12, ISSUE 6 June 2009 THE OUTPOST Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 787, Tampa Fl. NATIONAL CHAPTER OF THE YEAR 2001, FLORIDA STATE COUNCIL, CHAPTER OF THE YEAR 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, CHAPTER STATE NEWSLETTER OF THE YEAR 2007, FOR INFORMATION CALL BOB SILMSER (813) 220-7246 OR (813) 685-3483. WEB SITE: WWW.VVA787.COM Submitted by: Jon Mueller Chapter Officers Chapter Car Show a BIG Hit! President: Tom Hall Vice President: Carl Harris Secretary: Bob Silmser Treasurer: Bob Silmser Board of Directors: Jim LaGarde Kevin Ruhl Dave Braun Jon Mueller State Council Delegate: Kevin Ruhl Newsletter Editor: Jon Mueller, E-mail: [email protected] Meetings Chapter Meetings are held the 4th Thursday of each month. Time: 6:30 PM Pictured, L-R, Tom Hall, Location: Veterans Me- Beverly Thomas, Jim morial Park & Museum LaGarde, Carl & Elaine 3602 Hwy. 301 N. Harris, Bob Silmser, Tampa Fl. 33619. See Map on last page. Kevin Ruhl, Art Jorgen- sen, Penny & Steve Wil- Mailing address: P.O. liams, Mickey Taylor, Box 89247, Tampa Fl. &Tony Towers. More pictures on our web site. THE OUTPOST Page 2 THE OUTPOST Submitted by: Jon Mueller Page 3 Medal of Honor recipients of the War in Vietnam WAYNE MAURICE CARON Hospitalman 3rd Class United States Navy For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon Corpsman with Company K, during combat operations against enemy forces. While on a sweep through an open rice field HM3 Caron's unit started receiving enemy small arms fire. Upon seeing two Marine casualties fall, he immediately ran forward to render first aid, but found that they were dead. At this time, the platoon was taken under intense small-arms and automatic weapons fire, sustaining additional casualties. As he moved to the aid of his wounded comrades, HM3 Caron was hit in the arm by enemy fire. Al- though knocked to the ground, he regained his feet and continued to the injured Marines. He rendered medical assis- tance to the first Marine he reached, who was grievously wounded, and undoubtedly was instrumental in saving the man's life. HM3 Caron then ran toward the second wounded Marine, but was again hit by enemy fire, this time in the leg. Nonetheless, he crawled the remaining distance and provided medical aid for this severely wounded man. HM3 Caron started to make his way to yet another injured comrade, when he was again struck by enemy small-arms fire. Courageously and with unbelievable determination, HM3 Caron continued his attempt to reach the third Marine until he was killed by an enemy rocket round. His inspiring valor, steadfast determination, and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. Submitted By: Jon Mueller The Heavy Burden of War, Shouldered By The Few DeWayne Wickham [USA Today, May 26, 2009, Pg. 11] Military duty in a democracy is the ultimate act of public service. But while America has been waging war on two fronts since 2003, many Americans have left the defense of their way of life to the small group of people who make up our all-volunteer military. These men and women deserve more than just our gratitude. Submitted By: Jon Mueller Quote “Most men have under estimated their enemies in battle based on size, sex, religion or color.” Wayne Denton, USMC, 1982 VOLUME 12 ISSUE 6 Page 4 Calendar of Events Date Event Time June 2009 11th Thursday Board of Directors Meeting, Jon’s House 6:30 PM 25th Thursday Chapter 787 Meeting, Veterans Park & Museum 6:30 PM July 2009 4th Saturday Independence Day Parade, chapter members should meet at the Clayton Plaza 7:30 AM 5th Sunday Chapter 787 annual Fisher House Picnic 9:00 AM 11th Thursday Board of Directors Meeting, Jon’s House 6:30 PM 25th Thursday Chapter 787 Meeting, Veterans Park & Museum 6:30 PM Check out our EVENTS page on the chapter web site: www.vva787.com, click EVENTS then click Calendar of EVENTS Submitted By: Jon Mueller Sailor receives Silver Star for a 1967 fight in the Med A former Sailor whose quick action aboard the USS Liberty 42 years ago kept it from sinking was awarded a Silver Star Wednesday in the Visilia, Calif., office of Rep. David Nunes. James "Terry" Halbardier repaired a damaged antenna while under fire by Israeli aircraft, which had already knocked out the ship's communications, according to James Ennes, an of- ficer aboard the Liberty that day. Israel has long claimed the attack was a case of mistaken identity. The United States accepted Israel's apology and a Navy Court of Inquiry concluded the attack was an accident. Testimony by crewmembers pointed to a deliberate attack and the legal adviser to the court later said the court's conclusions were a sham. A new book, "The Attack on The Liberty," by James Scott, argues that President Lyndon Johnson’s administration allowed the accident story to stand in order to avoid a conflict with American Jewish leaders, many of whom already were opposed to his escalation of the Vietnam War. The Liberty is one of the most decorated ships in the Navy’s history as a result of the June 8, 1967, attack and the crew's successful fight to save it and each other. Its commander, Capt. William McGonagle, was presented the Medal of Honor, while executive officer Lt. Cmdr. Philip McCutcheon was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. Other members of crew were awarded 11 Silver Stars, 23 Bronze Stars, a Presidential Unit Citation, and more than 200 Purple Hearts – and now, Halbardier’s Silver Star. Financial Status of Chapter 787 as of May 2009 Total $10,992.07 (Moving Wall Fund..$6,663.82, AVVA $220.36, General checking $2,382.69, . Holiday Meals Fund…$$1,725.20). Total $3,265.38 ( Household Goods…….$387.90 Convention Fund………$2,877.48) All Accounts Total: $14,257.45 Thanks to our Treasurer Bob Silmser VOLUME 12, ISSUE 6 Pictures submitted by: Bob Silmser Page 5 Son Tay Raid presentation a big success! Chapter 787 along with chapter member and Armwood High School teacher, Bruce Burnham, hosted a presentation by Bill Guenon Jr. on the Son Tay Raid into North Vietnam during the war. The raid took place in November 1970. Bill Guenon was a USAF pilot on the lead C-130E combat talon aircraft at the time. Everyone in attendance on April 22nd, found the information very interesting. Bill Guenon was so appreciative of our hosting that he decided to join our chapter, see his e-mail to Bob Silmser below, and thanks to Bob for organizing this event and for asking Bill to join chapter 787. Pictured above, L-R, Chapter 787 President Tom Hall, Bill Guenon, Armwood Teacher Bruce Burnham with Bill. The following is an e-mail from Bill Guenon: From: WILLIAM GUENON Date: 05/03/09 06:13:10 To: [email protected] Subject: Appreciation Bob - Nice to finally meet you and the other members of chapter 787. We especially were impressed by all the in- quisitive younger crowd. Your group is most certainly doing the right thing by making sure they get the real story by those of us who actually lived it and made it happen. Way to go! The A/V setup was perfect. We're sure all got to see and hear the lecture painlessly. It reminded me of the Air & Space museum layout in D.C. where the presenter is at the bottom of the seats looking up at the audience. It's the big difference that makes the acoustics work perfectly. Thanks to you and all your fellow members who helped make the evening work are to be thanked for a job well done. Please pass on our appreciation. Many thanks for the membership offer, how could I say no...it will be in the mail just as soon as it's filled out. Again thanks for the kind gesture. Sincerely, /Bill 41 Whittemore Drive Ashland, MA 01721 USA [email protected] www.SECRETandDANGEROUS.com Tel: 508/ 881-5364 VOLUME 12 ISSUE 6 Submitted By: Jon Mueller Page 6 A Name in Stone Fills Void Family Finally Gets Vietnam Vet on Wall (USA Today, May 19, 2009, Pg. 3) A family’s 14-year battle with the U.S. military to add the name of former Marine Gunnery Sgt. Enrique Valdez to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will end when his name is read aloud during a Memorial Day ceremony. Valdez became a quadriplegic when his spinal cord was severed by shrapnel in Vietnam, and he succumbed to pneumonia in 1994. The family sought to have his name added to the wall because his death certificate said his passing was directly attrib- utable to his spinal cord injury, which he suffered in combat. The Marines kept rejecting the family’s appeal over the years until several former Marines, including Robert Johnston, a retired three-star general, got involved. Approval was finally granted last year, and Valdez’ name was added to the memorial on May 5 — the 58,261st name chiseled into the wall and the 322nd added since it was dedicated in 1982. Famous War Photojournalist Dies Dutch photojournalist Hubert Van Es, best known for a photo of a rooftop helicopter evacuation during the fall of Saigon in 1975, died Friday morning in Hong Kong. Van Es's death is being reported by the Associated Press and Reuters, citing family members. He was 67 and suffered a brain hemorrhage last week according to the reports.
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