JANUARY 2019 BECAUSE TOGETHER WE STAND INSIDE: 8 On & Off the Hill 22 Midway Museum 29 Shipmate Profile Discover life-changing freedom and fun 10” “With my Zinger Chair, I can The Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches. go anywhere and everywhere I want!” More and more Americans are reaching the age where great mobility, the ability to turn on a dime and to pull right mobility is an everyday concern. Whether from an injury up to tables or desks. The controls are right on the steering or from the aches and pains that come from getting older– lever so it’s simple to operate and its exclusive footrest getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be. You may have swings out of the way when you stand up or sit down. With tried a power chair or a scooter. The Zinger is NOT a power its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the Zinger is chair or a scooter! The Zinger is quick and nimble, yet it is sturdy and durable yet convenient and comfortable! What’s not prone to tipping like many scooters. Best of all, it weighs more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat or trunk– you only 47.2 pounds and folds and unfolds with ease. You can take can even gate-check it at the airport like a stroller. Think it almost anywhere, providing you with independence and about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you freedom. don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life. It folds in I can now go places and do things that I wasn’t seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. It holds up to able to go or do before. It has given me a new 265 pounds, and it goes up to 6 mph and operates for up to 8 lease on life and I am so happy I found it! hours on a single charge. Why spend another day letting mobility issues hamper your –Dana S., Texas independence and quality of life? Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a mobility device that’s truly unique. They created a battery Zinger Chair® that provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of Call now and receive a utility basket most batteries. The Zinger features two steering levers, one absolutely FREE with your order. NEW on either side of the seat. The user pushes both levers down to go forward, pulls them both up to brake, and pushes one 1-888-537-3376 while pulling the other to turn to either side. This enables Please mention code 110362 when ordering. Just think of the places you can go: • Shopping • Air Travel • Bus Tours • Restaurants– ride right up to the table! • Around town or just around your house Not intended for use by individuals restricted to a sitting position and not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Zinger is not a medical device. © 2018 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. 83937 contents January 2019 volume 98 number 1 COVER: Shari Duval, Founder with her son and President Brett Marine Raiders from Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) K-9 Unit conduct Simon of K9s for over-the-beach-bag (OTB) training in Naval Air Station Key West’s Truman Harbor during the Special Warriors. Operations Command’s multi-purpose canine handler training. Navy photo by Danette Baso Silvers. features K9s for Warriors: Because Together We Stand 16 K9s For Warriors is an accredited charity organization located in Ponte Vedra, Florida, that has been pairing rescue dogs with traumatized soldiers since 2011. USS Midway Museum The formidable aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY, the lead ship of the three Midway-Class 22 carriers, is now berthed alongside the Navy Pier in San Diego, where the city’s downtown meets the bay. Shipmate Joe Prusacik: A Lifetime of Service That ice cream shop job did not fulfill him, so he made the decision to go and serve his 29 country. This member of the Greatest Generation knew that serving his country meant a better future for him and his family. departments 2 Communications 41 TAPS LOYALTY, PROTECTION 4 From the Bridge 43 Reunions/Looking For… AND SERVICE 6 Shipmate Forum 44 Auxiliary of the FRA News FRA is a 8 On & Off Capitol Hill Message from NVP Bea Parco congressionally- 45 Meeting/Convention Calendar chartered, nonprofit Legislative updates organization 34 FRA Education Foundation 46 FRA Profile advocating on Capitol Hill for The CFC giving year Earl Clark (Branch 230) current and former 36 Membership Matters 48 Finance Matters enlisted members of the U.S. Navy, 38 Shipmate News Are you prepared for a financial crisis? Marine Corps and Coast Guard. FRAtoday /// January 2019 1 COMMUNICATIONS National Officers/Board Of Directors National President Robert Washington Sr., Navy Department Branch 181 National Vice President Donna M. Jansky, North Shore Branch 31 Happy, Healthy New Year! National Executive Dir. Thomas J. Snee, Navy Department Branch 181 Finance Officer Bryan M. Proctor, Headquarters Junior PNP William E. Starkey, South Jersey Branch 57 National Parliamentarian PNP George P. Hyland, Groton Branch 20 opefully you all were informed of the new health care National Chaplain Valerie Toulotte, Annapolis Branch 24 changes that were just implemented. The Fleet Reserve Regional Presidents Association has just on boarded Kerry Van Horn- Northeast/New England Joyce M. Harris, Groton Branch 20 Sprouffske as our new Legislative Program Health Care Advisor. East Coast Randy L. Phillipp, Triangle Branch 182 H Southeast James P. Richmond, Pensacola Branch 22 She will be assuming some of the functions that Bob Washington provided while he was on the staff at HQ. North Central Barry White, Mo-Kan Branch 161 South Central Emmett H. Smith Jr., Shreveport Bossier Branch 98 During a breakout session Southwest John F. Quesnel Jr., Imperial Beach Branch 289 at a recent conference held West Coast Rick Athenour, Sierra Tahoe Branch 137 in Washington DC, the Northwest William H. Hall, Gem State Branch 382 topic of a new Department Active Duty Advisory Council of Veterans Affairs service Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith called Video Connect was Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green discussed. VA Video Connect Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Jason M. Vanderhaden (https://mobile.va.gov/app/ Reserve Advisory Council va-video-connect) connects veterans with their health Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Christopher D. Kotz Sergeant Major of Marine Forces Reserve Patrick Kimble care service providers from Force Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard anywhere. You can use a computer, tablet or smartphone to connect Reserve George M. Williamson through a secure, live video session. The service makes VA health FRAtoday Magazine care more convenient and reduces travel times for veterans in rural areas with limited access to VA facilities. It also allows quick and The monthly membership publication of the Fleet Reserve Association Publisher Fleet Reserve Association easy health care access from any mobile or web-based device. National Executive Director Thomas J. Snee, M.Ed. As Van Horn-Sprouffske becomes settled into her new role at the Editor-in-Chief William D. Stevenson FRA, she plans to regularly provide valuable information regarding Assistant Editor Victoria Duran Contributing Editor Elise M. Howard health care topics. “I want to educate and inform our Shipmates Contributing Editor Ann Norvell Gray about how to navigate through the health care systems available to Proofreader Desnee Stevens them. I would like for them to feel like they can ask me questions so Design and Art Direction FRA Staff Advertising Sales: GLM Communications (212) 929-1300 I can easily and quickly provide answers,” says Van Horn-Sprouffske. [email protected] Kerry is particularly eager to provide answers to questions about FRAtoday (ISSN 1935-7192) is published monthly by FRA, 125 N. West St., Alexandria, the VA Choice Program. Shipmates who live more than 40 miles VA 22314-2754. A member’s subscription is covered by the member’s annual dues. from a VA Center or Hospital may not be aware that they can Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Va. and additional offices. Publication of nonsponsored advertising in FRAtoday does not constitute an endorsement by the FRA receive care from a community provider and have the visit paid for or its representatives. Postmaster: Send address changes to Member Services, FRA, 125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2754. FRAtoday is published in the by the Department of Veterans Affairs. To use the Veterans Choice interests of all current and former enlisted personnel of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Program, veterans must receive prior authorization from the VA to Coast Guard. Eligible nonmembers are not entitled to subscription rates. Established November 1, 1923. Title registered with U.S. Patent Office. receive care from a health care provider that is part of VA’s VCP network of community providers. FRA Administrative Headquarters Van Horn-Sprouffske will be a point of contact for Shipmates 125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2754 Telephone: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 who have questions regarding health care. If you have any questions, Fax: 703-549-6610 • email: [email protected] • www.fra.org please contact Kerry at (703) 683-1400, ext. 124 or send her an Volume 98 Number 1 FRA email at: [email protected]. Find us on Facebook: www.fra.org/fb In Loyalty, Protection & Service, Follow us on Twitter: William Stevenson, Communications & Marketing Director www.twitter.com/FRAHQ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/FRA_HQ 2 FRAtoday /// January 2019 Less than QUANTITIESLIMITED $50 Call Now! per coin! Own the Coins of Jesse James, Black Bart and Billy the Kid Secure the First Five Years of the Most Iconic U.S.