2018 February

E L P A S O C H A P T E R O F M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R S A S S O C I A T I O N O F A M E R I C A

Nationally Ranked Five-Star Chapter • MOAA Affiliate from January 23, 1956 • Our 62nd Year

Chapter Staff Emeritus

• COL Margaret H. Baskfield
• 584-6826

593-1469 594-0444

585-9619 584-7682 566-4976

755-3387 755-3387

598-6058 598-0981 585-9106

533-5111 755-2325

598-6058 449-8944

533-5111 355-1849

842-9650

222-8307 598-3835

778-0948

Inside this issue:

INPUT

LTC Rafael G. Garcia CW3 Emiliano Gorgas

Major E. Dexter Lyerly Mrs. Blanche J “Maggie” Maguire LTC James L. McLaughlin

LTC Daniel J. Schulte Mrs. Kathleen Schulte

MAJ Edwin S. Stone, III Captain Jeanne B. Thompson COL Martin C. Wehmhoner

COL Robert Pitt

3

deadline for

President’s Message

April 2018

Border Bulletin

5

Luncheon Menu Program

3 March 2018

Guest Speaker

6

The Border Bulletin
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE

Editor: LTC William L. Moore 842-9650

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Events Schedule

COL Lennie Enzel

7

Mrs. Judy Stone
MG Edward Greer, USA 755-2244

MG William H. Riley, Jr. 584-8798

Advertising Manager: LTC William L. Moore

[email protected]
Printer: Northeast Printing,755-6089

February 2018 • Vol 62 No 1

The Border Bulletin is the Official publication of the

El Paso Chapter of

The Military Officers Association of America

P.O. Box 6144, Fort Bliss, TX 79906-0144.
This bulletin is published Bi-monthly. Subscription is included in the annual

dues of $20.00.

Doc’s Corner

COL Forrest Smith

9

Mrs. Julie Pitt Mrs. Elma Smith

Auxiliary Liaison

LTC William Moore

10

COL Steve Barrett

Army Nurse Corps History ...

Mrs. Janet Rasmussen

Mrs. Connie Sullivan

11

Personal Affairs

Statement of Publication

12-13

The Border Bulletin is the newsletter of the El Paso Chapter, Military Officers Association of

America. It is published bi-monthly, even months,

to inform the membership of issues and activities of interest to all. elpasomoaa.org is a non-profit entity within the State of Texas organized to

represent the membership and to support the

activities of the Texas Council of Chapters and

MOAA National. Advertising contained on the website and in the newsletter and directory are not endorsed by the Chapter and does not represent any recommendation to the membership. Opinions expressed in articles contained herein

are not necessarily those of the membership as

a whole or the Chapter. Questions should be

directed to the Editor, at the Chapter office.

The advertisements that appear in

EP MOAA Images

15

Membership

WM. DAVITT, EYE M.D.

Eye Diseases • Lid Surgery • Research • BOTOX

18

Chaplain Corner

19

William F. Davitt III, M.D.

8815 Dyer, Suite 130
915-757-3937 [email protected]

Legislative

this publication/website do not reflect an endorsment by MOAA or the El Paso Chapter.

Levels of Excellence

Runner-up

Five-Star Chapter

2000 and 2001 2001 thru 2017

Communications Award Print Newsletter

Five Star

Winner

Runner-up
2015 and 2016

2004, 2012, 2013 and 2014

2008 thru 2011

Communications Award Print Legislative Coverage

• Winner
• 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012

9728-A Dyer St El Paso, TX 79924 PH 915.755.6089

Communications Award Website

Five-Star

Winner

Runner-up
2015 and 2016

2010 thru 2013

2009 and 2014 2007

FAX 915.757.2452

Special Communications Award

[email protected]

2

EL PASO MOAA

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

COL Forrest Smith, USA, Retired

1. MOAA National News. In January, MOAA National published the Top 10 Legislative Goals for 2018 in the newly formatted Military Officer magazine. There is an excellent detailed explanation of the background and remedy for each of these goals in the magazine. After 16 years of war, and with unpredictable political transitions in the coming year, the time has never been more important to “circle the wagons” and link arms in the fight to preserve your benefits and entitlements. We will discuss opportunities to collaborate on these goals throughout the year. I encourage you to join MOAA efforts at the local and National level, in our collective efforts to pursue the top 10 legislative goals for 2018.

• A.
• Top 10 Legislative Goals for 2018.

(1) (2) (3) (4)

(5) (6)

(7) (8) (9)
Ensure TRICARE reform sustains access to top quality care. Prevent disproportional TRICARE fee increases. Sustain military pay comparability with the private sector. Block erosion of compensation and non-pay and quality of life benefits.

Protect military retirement and COLAs. Sustain wounded warrior programs and expand caregiver support.

End financial penalties to survivors and the disabled. Ensure the Guard and Reserve system adequately supports the requirements for an operational reserve. Ensure spouse and family support programs are aligned with current and emerging needs of an all-volunteer force.
(10) Ensure timely access to VA health care and preserve earned veterans benefits. Note: Visit www.moaa.org/email, or call (800) 234-MOAA to subscribe to The MOAA Newsletter on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis, and select topic areas of interest – and get periodic updates on goals and key actions.

• B.
• New Military Officer magazine format. Editor Molly Wyman and the Rachel Barth, the Creative Director for

Military Officer magazine, have combined efforts to execute an excellent revision of the magazine’s format, emphasizing “relevance and value across MOAA’s diverse membership.” In addition to the new format there are numerous informative articles to include an excellent presentation of the 2018 Transition Guide, and an excellent review of the 2018 NDAA in the Mission Critical Legislative news section, entitled “Final Text of FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act Released.” Well

done ladies.

2. Supporting the El Paso Community. So what can you do to contribute to your El Paso military community and

MOAA’s efforts to protect you benefits? A. Get Informed. Understand MOAA’s Top Ten Goals for the year, and track MOAA’s progress in fighting for your compensation and benefits.

B. Get involved. (1) Communicate directly with your political representatives. You can send elected officials your own message of

support utilizing MOAA National’s website, Legislative Action Center. You can also choose a MOAA-suggested message telling your elected leaders to stop defense bill personnel and compensation cuts. Your message will be pushed automatically to your House and Senate leaders. Communicate directly to your elected officials and be heard. It’s easy. Go to www. moaa.org, and use their simple tools. Its easy…and effective.

(2) Become a MOAA Member and speak with one voice. Your membership entitles you to access to, and use of valu-

able planning tools, and continuous lobbying efforts to preserve your earned military benefits. Join now by visiting www.

elpasomoaa.org.

“Professional Leaders belong to Professional Organizations.” Become part of the solution. Join MOAA.

“Never Stop Serving”.

Forrest Smith COL, USA, Retired
President

3

THE BORDER BULLETIN

El Paso MOAA
Outreach Foundation

NAME

The name of this organization shall

be El Paso Chapter Outreach Founda-

tion of the Military Officers Association of America, herein after referred to as

the MOAA Outreach Foundation. Short Title: elpasomoaaoutreach.org.

The El Paso Chapter Outreach Foundation is registered with the IRS as a

501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All

donations are 100% tax deductible.

DFAS Changes Mailing Address,

the Defense Finance and

Accounting Service announced it was changing

mailing addresses for re-

tirees and annuitants. Retired Pay correspondence should be addressed to DFAS, U.S. Military Retired Pay, 8899 E 56th St., Indianapolis, IN, 46249- 1200. Annuitant correspondence should be addressed to DFAS, U.S. Military Annuitant Pay at the same address.

FOUNDATION UPDATE

The Foundation received $550 monetary donations plus a variety of canned food items at our December MOAA meeting. A “Tip of the Hat” to

everyone who made monetary and/or

canned food donations for the Junior Enlisted Family Center, YMCA Food

Pantry. We know the recipients are

grateful for all of our charitable actions. As the value of the Foundation

grows we will be able to provide more and larger donations to support our soldiers who are currently serving and those who have served in the past. It is our intent to provide the support that

is deserved to organizations and fel-

low veterans where it is most needed..

The actions of the Foundation Board have acted as intended in past few months. In the New Year it is our goal to provide the needed financial sup-

port to even more organizations and

veterans who require our support to improve their quality of life. You may be proud of the actions of the Founda-

tion as we participate together.

Board of Directors:

President

Brigadier General Jack Kotter

Vice-President

Colonel Lennie Enzel

Secretary

Lieutenant Colonel Bill Moore

Treasurer

Ms. Elma Smith

Programs

Colonel Maureen Lofberg

Advisory Director

Colonel Forrest Smith

2017 Foundation Contributors

Mrs. Ann P Niethammer Mrs. Kathern La Bounty
Major General & Mrs Edward
Greer
Mrs. Rachel Bustos
Brigadier General & Mrs. Jack
Kotter
Lieutenant Colonel Bill Moore &
Colonel C.J. Moore
Colonel & Mrs. Forrest Smith
Colonel Lennie Enzel
Lieutenant Colonel B. J. Jackson Lieutenant Colonel Daniel & Mrs.
Schulte

We are in the process of creating

a closer relationship with the Junior ROTC programs In El Paso and the ROTC programs commissioning new

junior officers. The first action will be establishing a $500 scholarship for a

ROTC cadet. Another imitative will be

to provide the 2LT epaulets for UTEP

cadets at their commissioning.

Mrs. Ellen Pipken
Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Sherman Rollins
Colonel and Mrs. Joseph Betasso
Mrs. Gaetana Broillet Mrs. Judith Colletti

The Outreach Foundation continues to evolve and grow.

Lieutenant Colonel Martha
Caldwell
Lieutenant Colonel Terrence &
Mrs. Powers
Captain Stephen & Mrs. Mendoza

Service by Serving Others Jack Kotter BG, USA, Retired

4

EL PASO MOAA

February Guest Speaker

Lunch Menu

by the Texas Veterans Commission

with the Patriotism Award for the Vet-

erans Treatment Court. She received Congressional Recognition by Con-

gressman O'Rourke for her work with

the Treatment Court and her contribution in the Veteran Community. In

2014, Judge Barill received from the

Paso Del Norte Civil Rights Project the Outstanding Achievement in Legal

Services Award for her Contribution

with the Veterans Treatment Court. In

2013, she was selected as the Out-

standing Jurist and received the award

from the American Board of Trial

February

Baked Italian Beef Lasagna Green Bean Almandine
Tossed Green Salad w/dressing,
Roll w/Butter,
Coffee, Iced Tea, and Water
MOAA Cake

Advocates. In 2012, Judge Barill also received an Outstanding Achievement

Award from the 1ST Armored Division/

SEPTEMBER GUEST SPEAKER

Old Ironside Association. And in 2006,

Judge Barill was appointed by Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson, Supreme Court of Texas to service to the 8th Court of Appeals.

Angie Barrill

Judge Angie Juarez Barill, 346TH

State District Court Judge, was elected in 2004 and is presently serving her 4TH term. Judge Barill started the El Paso Veterans Treatment Court in 2012, a program that serves to treat our active military and veterans

who suffer from PTSD, TBI and other

mental illnesses. She also handles a criminal and a civil docket.

Meeting Program

Saturday, 10 February

She has also contributes annually to the International Military-Sergeant

Major’s Academy-Fort Bliss regard-

ing our Judicial System. She is

presently a current member for the

Juvenile Board, Current Law Library Board Committee Member, Founding

Member of the LSPI advisory Board at UTEP and she has served for the last 10 years as the Presiding Chair of the El Paso County Bail Bond Board – which recently initiated E-Bond – the 1ST in the State of Texas.

Underwood Golf Course

Sequence of Events

11:00 — 11:45 11:45 — 1200 12:00 — 12:45 12:45 — 13:30 13:30 — 13:45 13:45 — 14:00
Social Hour Opening Ceremony Meal Service

Judge Barill previously was elected as

a Municipal Court Judge from 1993- 2003. Prior to being elected, she

worked as a Sole Practitioner, was an Assistant City Prosecutor and an

Adjunct Professor at UTEP.

Program Door Prize Drawing Closing Ceremony

In 2015 Judge Barill was recognized

Please submit your Lunch

Reservations no later than Monday, 5 February, 2018

Treasurer: MOAA
PO Box 6144
El Paso, TX 79906-0144

All dinner reservations with payment to our postal mail box

$

20

Per Person

Brigadier General Jack Kotter, President, El Paso MOAA Outreach Foundation and Colonel Forrest Smith, President, El Paso Chapter, MOAA greet each other at the 2 December 2017 Luncheon.

REMITTANCE
ENVELOPE ENCLOSED

5

THE BORDER BULLETIN

Report a Retiree
Death

February 10, 2018 March 25, 2018 April 14, 2018 May 28, 2018 June 9, 2018
February Membership Meeting Luncheon Bataan Memorial Death March April Membership and Luncheon Memorial Day

2018

EL PASO CHAPTER
MOAA

Monday - Friday:

0730 - 1700

915-568-5207

After Hours (Installation)

915-569-6950/6951

June Membership Meeting and Luncheon Flag Day

EVENTS

June 14, 2018 June 17, 2018

SCHEDULE

Father’s Day

Retiree and Annuitant Pay Dates for 2017

Entitlement Month

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Retiree Payment Dates

Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 Thursday, Mar. 1, 2018 Friday, Mar. 30, 2018 Tuesday, May. 1, 2018 Friday, June 1, 2018 Friday, June 29, 2018 Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018 Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 Friday, Nov. 30, 2018 Monday, Dec. 31, 2018

Annuitant Payment Dates

Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 Thursday, Mar. 1, 2018 Monday, Apr. 2, 2018 Tuesday, May 1, 2018 Friday, June 1, 2018 Monday, July 2, 2018 Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018 Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019

FORT BLISS VISITOR POLICY

As part of Fort Bliss’ continued efforts to improve

installation access, five Visitor Control Centers (VCCs) will

begin operating on the 9th of August.

All visitors to Fort Bliss will need to obtain a Visitors
Pass at one of the following VCCs before entering the installation: Buffalo Soldier, Chaffee, Old Ironsides (Global Reach), Sheridan, or Biggs Airfield Main (Sergeant Major Blvd). Visitor passes are good for a maximum of 30 days.

Fort Bliss Visitor Control Centers The Buffalo Soldier VCC will operate from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. every day of the week, including holidays.
The Master Sgt. Peña VCC will be closed to the public indefinitely for visitor passes, but will be open for

un-cleared contractor processing only.

The Sheridan VCC will be closed to the public indefinitely for visitor passes and will process foreign

visitors and special access only.

However, the Peña and Sheridan VCCs will be

the primary automated installation entry registration

points, operating between 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for AIE registration (Mondays-Fridays only). The specific start date for AIE registration will be published in the near

future.

The following hours still apply for Fort Bliss VCCs: the Chaffee VCC will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (including holidays), and the Old Ironsides VCC will operate from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. every day of the week,

incluiding holidays.

WBAMC Pharmacy Services

Main Hospital Pharmacy

Monday through Wednesday and Friday Last Thursday of every month Saturday
7:30 AM – 6:00 PM 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
915-742-2793
Closed Sundays and Federal Holidays

Freedom Crossing PX Pharmacy

• Monday – Friday
• 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
915-742-9017 915-742-1802
Saturday & Training Holidays Closed Sundays and Federal Holidays

Soldier and Family Medical Clinic (SFMC) Pharmacy

• Monday – Friday
• 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM

Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays

Soldier Family Care Clinic (SFCC) Pharmacy

Visitors to William Beaumont Army Medical Center

are required to use the Fred Wilson Access Control Point

and visitors to the McGregor Range Complex are required to use the McGregor Front Access Control Point. Hours of operation: 24 hours, 7 days a week, for both of these

ACPs.

• Monday – Friday
• 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
• 915-742-1400

Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays

• Pharmacy Refill Services
• 915-742-1400

El Paso VA Health Care System Pharmacy

There are four convenient options for refilling prescriptions which can then be mailed directly to your home.

Choose any process that is easy for you to use:

As a reminder, all drivers requiring entry to the installation must possess a valid state issued driver’s license, vehicle registration document, and proof of

insurance for a pass to be issued. All vehicles are subject

to random security inspections.

All DOD ID card holders (military, dependent, retiree, and DOD/DA civilians) are authorized to escort those that

do not possess a DOD ID card. Individuals being escorted must possess a valid form of government issued ID card

(state driver’s license or ID card) and present it when

entering at the Access Control Point. If an individual does not possess a valid form of government issued ID, they

cannot be escorted and must obtain a pass at a VCC.

DOD ID card holders escorting visitors assume

responsibility for the escorted visitors. The authorized escort must remain with their guests at all times while they

are on the installation.

• Call the automated phone system at (915) 564-6100 ext. 6110 or 1-800-672-3782 ext. 6110. • Follow the directions to process your refill. • Mail in your refill slips. • Drop the refill slip in the mail-out box located in the pharmacy. • Use the MyHealtheVet Website: www.myhealth.va.gov

Please note, window service at the Pharmacy will be limited to new prescriptions only. So, for all refills, please use one of the 4 options listed above.
Thank you in advance for using these new steps which should improve the speed and efficiency of getting your prescriptions from the El Paso VAHCS Pharmacy.