EX-POW BULLETIN the official voice of the American Ex-Prisoners of War Volume 65 www .axpo w .or g Number 2 February 2008 We exist to help those who cannot help themselves National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans February 11-16 Inside...AXPOW Funding Program...News, Outreach, Events... NSO success stories...information...and more Fourth Annual MIA/POW Recognition Day and Orientation Luncheon Sponsored by Veterans Administration, Boston Healthcare System was held by Nov. 30, 2007 at the Boston Jamaica Plain Campus. Forty-four former prisoners of war, accompanied by their spouses, family members and caregivers were served lunch by members of the VA administration and their staff. The luncheon was followed by orientation on the proper use and care of prescription medication by members of the pharmacy staff. Then followed a presentation by Emergency Management personnel on what measures should be taken to be prepared for unexpected emergencies whether from manmade or natural causes. 1. (l to r) Roger Hughes, Ex-POW, Gloria Noble, P.C. Cmdr. S.E. Chapter., Kay Arnold, N.S.O, Frank Molinari, Ex-POW. 2. (l to r) Marilyn Canavan, spouse, William Bearisto, P.N.C., Ethel Bearisto, P.C. Cmdr. Mass Chapter 1, Joseph Canavan, Ex-POW. 3. Two views of audience during the orientations. 4. Group photo of the (44) Former Prisoners of War in attendance. national commander Some of the suggestions I have re- ceived are: join some other veteran organization as a co-organization, A Trade With disband, call it quits. You and I Uncle Sam can learn from our mistakes. We have all seen the down side of life. Warren G. King, Sr. Do we want to go out that way? I © September 2007 don’t. Let’s try to support each other and our organization — mon- When Uncle Sam was in need of etary and voluntary. young soldiers, I had just graduated from high school, I joined the Army right away, And was soon training in a medical pool. I gave my cap and gown, to Warren G. King, Sr. Uncle Sam, He gave me khakis and green Where did 2007 go? Look out for for awhile, nd that groundhog on February 2 . A water bottle and rations, Ds and Cs, As the difficult 2007 year ends, we And shoes for walking are still walking, with not much many miles. running. We have lost some good friends and others have become There are things going on in the or- I traded my ball cap for a helmet, “home bound.” We lost a dear ganization that I don’t like and I I spent some time across that friend, June Jackson, on Christmas am not part of it. I am still helping blue sea, Day. We will miss her. She enjoyed spouses get their compensations. When I returned we had won the “cute, corny” jokes we shared. I have three in the “mill” to be ad- our freedom, Les, you and your family have our judicated now. I hope they get their And a wife from sunny sympathy and love. You are all in “Valentine” present early. Tennessee. our prayers. We are looking forward to meeting I traded my boots and saddle, As for the POW organization, it again in Washington, D.C. for our For the ranks to march for seems that nothing has changed. I mid-year conference. Mary Rolen Uncle Sam, am still receiving complaints about has worked very hard to get the I’m just a good ole something. It would be nice if best deal for us and will confirm riding cowboy, these people tried to solve com- plans in a few days. The confer- I’ll show my colors for plaints as much as they try to find ence will be held March 5th - 8th in what I am. fault with something. I agree, some Washington, D.C. at the same loca- of the complaints are legitimate. tion as before. I treated the wounded on the But why not “bury the hatchet?” battlefield, Some people feel that they must Our committees are working on I tried to help them all I could, have the last word. their projects. We will continue to For my freedom back in America, do our best for the organization For my family, I thought I should, with what we have to work with. Yes, I thought that I should. Warren G. King, Sr. Pictures: Newly elected National Commander Warren G. King, Sr. represented the American Ex- Ex-POW Bulletin Prisoners of War in Veterans Day January 2008 ceremonies held in Washington, D.C. in November, 2007. 3 axpow officers & directors 2006-2007 National Headquarters - Clydie J. Morgan, Adjutant 3201 E. Pioneer Pkwy, #40, Arlington, TX 76010 (817) 649-2979 (817) 649-0109 fax [email protected] Officers North East Region Directors Mid-Central Region Franklin R. Koehler National Commander Grover L. Swearingen 243 Torrey Pines Dr. 408 Fair Park Avenue Warren G. King, Sr. Toms River, NJ 08757 West Union, OH 45693 1015 Mitchell Rd. (732) 244-4629; (732) 505-8702 fax (937) 544-2459 phone & fax Nashville, TN 37206-1113 [email protected] [email protected] (615) 226-7811; (615) 262-3049 fax [email protected] Laura McIntyre Ed ‘Kaz” Kazmierczak PO Box 475 3754 Elvera Lane National Senior Vice Commander Hardwick, MA 01037 Warren MI 48092 Jim Clark (413) 477-8260 (413) 477-0172 fax (586) 268-1954 214 Oakdale [email protected] Bastrop, LA 71220-2330 South Central Region (318) 281-5505 phone & fax East Central Region James L. Lollar Judy Lee 292 VZ CR 3727 National Treasurer PO Box 248 Wills Point, TX 75169 Sonnie Bill Mottern Madisonville, TN 37354 (903) 560-1734; (903) 560-1705 fax 706 1/2 North Lynn Avenue (423) 442-3223; (423) 442-4702 fax [email protected] Elizabethton, TN 37643 [email protected] (423) 543-3135; (423) 543-6221 fax Howard Ray [email protected] William J. Richardson 7507 Legend Rock 5125 Lake Valley Drive San Antonio, TX 78244 National Judge Advocate Fayetteville, NC 28303 (210) 661-5911; (210) 661-8837 fax George Coker (910) 864-7318; (910) 487-5100 fax [email protected] 1145 Wivenhoe Way [email protected] Virginia Beach, VA 23454-3047 Northwest Region (757) 481-9578 Southeast Region Herbert C. Kirchhoff [email protected] Edward L. DeMent 2910 Fernan Ct. 8735 Doral Oaks Dr., #1617 Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 National Chaplain Temple Terrace, FL 33617 (208) 667-6716 John Romine (813) 985-3783; (813) 989-8871 fax [email protected] 1609 S. 23rd Street [email protected] Rogers, AR 72756 Bonnie Sharp (479) 636-2287 Ray Van Duzer 9716 54th Street CT West 14157 89th Ave. N University Place, WA 98467-1118 Jr. Vice Commanders Seminole, FL 33776 (253) 565-0444 (727) 593-1813 Charles Susino - Eastern Zone [email protected] (727) 319-5914 office 136 Jefferson Street [email protected] Metuchen, NJ 08840 Southwest Region (732) 549-5775 Ralph Kling North Central Region 15895 Puesta Del Sol Lane Morris Barker - Central Zone Carroll Bogard Ramona, CA 92065-5600 710 Chapel View 726 N. Carolina Place (760) 789-3339 phone & fax Waco, TX 76712 Mason City, IA 50401 [email protected] [email protected] (641) 424-4870 (254) 732-5640 Lawrence Strickland Larry Dwyer 35109 Hwy 79 South #63 Frank Burger - Western Zone 814 Woodlawn Ave. Warner Springs, CA 92086 Muscatine, IA 52761 3135 Brilene Lane (760) 782-0538 (563) 263-5249 San Diego, CA 92111 [email protected] (858) 277-0506 Senior Director, PNC Gerald Harvey [email protected] 1504 West 5th St. Sedalia, MO 65301 Committee addresses appear (660) 827-2178 with their columns [email protected] February 2008 table of contents commander 3 Directors/Officers 4 Correction: on capitol hill 6 PNC Bill Schmidt’s birthday fell off the cal- outreach/Success 7 endar for 2008. Friends can wish him a happy vavs/nso 8 birthday on September 9th. medsearch 9 andersonville 12 namPOW 13 pow-mia 14 civilian 15 The National Board of Directors’ meeting is scheduled for events, info/news 16 March 5-8, 2008 members’ forum 17 News Briefs 18 The meetings will be at the Sheraton National Hotel in Ar- Stories 20 lington, Virginia. The hotel is located at 900 South Orme volunteer funding 22 Street, Arlington, Virginia 22204. This is at Columbia Pike contributions 24 and Washington Boulevard. The hotel has free shuttle ser- taps 26 chaplain 29 vice to and from National Airport. To make reservations, Raffle/Ads 31 please contact the Washington office at 202-530-9220. The new members 33 room rate is $159. per night, plus tax and service charge. Quartermaster 34 The organization will pay for three nights for elected Board members. All other attendees will be responsible for their own rooms. Board/Committee Chairmen who wish to have a report in Publisher for the meeting should sent it by Feb. 10, 2008. PNC F. Paul Dallas 916 Bingham Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304 Clydie J. Morgan, National Adjutant Editor Cheryl Cerbone On the cover: 23 Cove View Drive National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans... South Yarmouth, MA 02664 The purpose of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Program is to: (508) 394-5250 · pay tribute and express appreciation to hospitalized veterans; (508) 760-2008 fax · increase community awareness of the role of the VA medical center; [email protected] · encourage citizens to visit hospitalized veterans and to become in volved as volunteers Deadline for the May issue is March 25, 2008 The week of February 14 each year is your opportunity to say thank you to a special group of men and women, more than 98,000 veterans of the U.S.