The American Legion Post 18 News 700 Adams Street * Bay City, MI 48708-5834 * 989-895-5231 2019 Member of N.A.L.P. - M.A.L.P - P.A.L.S. 2019-2020 Leadership Commander Tim Eckstein Commander Commander’s Corner Tim Eckstein 616-822-9498 Senior Vice Commander Those of you who have visited the Post in the past 6 Tony Lyle 989-359-9739 weeks have seen the stunning remodeling job in the club room. It was a monumental task of tearing down, ripping Junior Vice Commander up and carefully reassembling. Jason Sansburn 989-992-3337 Adjutant It has a nice clean appearance, and the feeling is Mike Pergande 989-316-1476 richly warm and inviting. The lighting effect has brightened up the table seating Chaplain area over an impressive new flooring. No more carpeted walls and floors to dis- Charles Campbell 989-450-4563 color and absorb odors and spills. The atmosphere seems to have lifted the mood and attitude of the many who have already seen and enjoyed the new digs. Even Finance / Service Officer the two support posts have taken on a new life of their own, sporting the rank Mark Kaczmarek 989-239-2846 insignias of each of the uniformed services with a pleasant and attractive color scheme. Sergeant-at-Arms Stan Musial Contributing their time, talents and ingenuity toward this project over a two- Historian week period of time in August while the club was shut down were members of Jerry Crow 989-220-7654 the American Legion Post 18 and Sons of the American Legion Squadron 18. Ed Glaza, Mike Pergande, Rick Scheel, Dave LaPointe and Dennis Boggs all Judge Advocate had a major role in contributing to this major renovation. Bill Miller 989-662-6559 Gentlemen! Please accept my humble words of gratitude for the exceptional ex- Webmaster, IT ercise in volunteerism that will prove to be a lasting benefit to our Post and the Vacant community. Executive Board Ed Glaza 989-892-4444 Bill Nieman 989-892-2739 We continue to have success with the weekly entertainment accompanying our Phil Matthews 989-894-4646 fish fry every Friday night. A great selection of seafood combined with excel- lent entertainment from the Dixie Hi-Way Variety Band lends itself to the per- Trustees fect experience for Legionnaires and their guests who want to relax and dine, Terry Spencer 989-450-5476 Troy Stewart 989-225-1037 dance, or just listen to the fine music. Jason Sansburn 989-992-3337 Bar Chairman Ed Glaza 989-892-4444 S.A.L. Commander Rick Scheel 989-225-1310 Auxiliary President : Karen Jarmer First Vice: Jean Moreau Treas/ Sec: Amy Wurdock Chaplain: Sue Smith Please come on out and join in the fun with me. See you there!! Tim Eckstein Welcome USS Beale (DDE 471) Reunion On September 14th I had the chance to catch up with Paul Barry, Secretary of the USS Beale Association in the club room of American Legion Post 18th where about 45 former members and their guests were enjoying great food and music for their annual reunion. The group chose Bay City as this year’s reunion site to enjoy the legend and lore of the USS Edson courtesy of Legionnaire Michael Kegley, and the atmosphere of American Legion Post 18 courtesy of the Sons of the Legion and the La- dies Auxiliary. The storied history of the famous destroyer USS Beale is one that even the most water-fearing landlubber could appreciate. NAVY LOG Commissioned in 1942, USS Beale was deployed to the Pacific Theater where she sank a German U-Boat and fought in engagements at the Battle of Leyte Gulf and San Bernadino Straight (both in the Philippines), as well as the Battle of Okinawa in Japan. Beale was instrumental in the rescue of two US Naval warships off Okinawa, the USS Newcomb and the USS Leutz, both of which were hit by Kamikazes. An interesting piece of naval trivia…after conclusion of hostilities in WWII, the Communications Officer Rudy Tichy who was also an architect built a club in Sasebo Japan. Decommissioned in 1946, the USS Beale was recommissioned and returned to service in 1951 for the Korean Conflict. The Beale was subsequently involved in a clandestine operation for the Bay of Pigs Inva- sion (April 1961). Overpainting its hull number and camouflaging the Ensign (US Flag), Beale served as an escort to the Bay of Pigs landing area. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962, during which the United States stood down Nikita Khruschev and the Russians, the Beale formed part of the naval block- ade of nuclear weapons aboard Russian trawlers headed for Cuba. Beale is credited with having tracked and forced a Russian nuclear armed submarine B59 to surface as a direct result of the Beale’s hurling concus- sion grenades in the direction of the B59 sub. There is a report that the subs skipper was prepared to launch nuclear weapons but couldn’t get all three of the “key” officers onboard to concur. Close call, indeed!!! In 1966 the Beale transited the Panama Canal from its homeport in Norfolk, VA and headed to Vi- etnam where it patrolled the Gulf of Tonkin as well as the South China Sea from Danang to the Demilita- rized Zone (DMZ), firing several thousand rounds in support of ground operations. Beale served as “chase vessel” for the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid into North Vietnam waters, the purpose of which was to rescue errant pilots missing the flight deck during plane recovery operations. Fortunately, it is reported that none of Intrepid’s pilots missed the flight deck. Other ports-of-call and sea service actions include: Singapore, India, Greece, Gibraltar, Red Sea, Suez Canal. USS Beale (DDE 471) was decommissioned in 1968 and sunk as part of submarine target practice off the east coast where it rests as an artificial reef. Sailors of the USS Beale have earned many decorations, in addition to the following distinctions: Order of Magellan for global circumnavigation. Sons of Neptune Shellback for crossing the equator. Order of the Domain of the Golden Dragon for crossing the International Dateline. All Hail the Hardy Crew of USS BEALE! For more information, check out a great website: www.usssbealedd.dde471.org 2019 Calendar Auxiliary Unit 18 ****Dates are subject to change*** The Auxiliary resumed their monthly meetings Tuesday, September 17th with much being accom- Oct. 11 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm plished. Plan to join us at our next meeting, Tues- Oct. 15 Auxiliary Meeting, 6pm th Oct. 18 Fish Fry, 11am-8pm day, October 15 at 6:00 p.m. Oct. 20 ALA Open House 1-3pm Oct. 23 Marine Corps League, 7pm MEMBERSHIP Oct. 25 Fish Fry, 11am-8pm The American Legion has voted to extend member- Nov. 1 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm ship in the American Legion Auxiliary to male spouses of US veter- Nov. 2 Aux District Meeting, ans and service members. During the American Legion National Farwell Post 558 Convention delegates in the American Legion voted to replace the Nov. 3 VVA, 7pm word "wife" with "spouse" in their constitution and bylaws, opening Nov. 5 Election Day up membership in the American Legion Auxiliary effective immedi- Nov. 8 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm Nov. 11 Veterans Day ately. This new membership eligibility has much promise for growth Nov. 11 Luncheon at the Post in the American Legion Auxiliary, leading to new resources, in- Nov. 12 Legion Mtg., 6:30pm creased funding opportunities, and additional diversity and talent Nov. 15 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm among our leadership as well as general membership. Our Member- Nov. 19 Aux. Mtg., 6pm ship Goal for 2020 is 104 members. That is only 5 additional mem- Nov. 21 Thanksgiving, Post closed Nov. 22 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm bers! We can meet this goal! You should be receiving your Nov. 24 SAL Prime Rib Dinner, 5pm 2020 Membership Renewal Notice soon. When completing these Nov. 27 Marine Corps League, 7pm please insert your phone number and email address so we can Nov. 29 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm update our records. Thank you! Dec. 1 VVA, 7pm Dec. 6 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm YOU ARE INVITED!! Dec. Legion Kids Christmas party You are invited to a “Come & Go Open House, Sunday, October th Dec. 10 Legion Meeting, 6:30pm 20 from 1 to 3 PM.” We are using this as our Kick Off event cele- Dec. 13 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm brating the Auxiliary's 100th Anniversary! November 10, 2019, Dec. 17 Auxiliary Meeting, 6pm marks the 100th Anniversary date that the American Legion passed Dec. 20 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Article XIII of their Constitution establishing the Women's Auxiliary Dec. 25 Christmas, Post Closed of the American Legion, later to be renamed the American Legion Dec. Marine Corps League, 7pm Auxiliary. Mark your calendars now to join us for this celebration! Dec. 27 Fish Fry, 3pm-8pm Additional information we be sent out prior to this event. Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve DISTRICT MEETING -SEPTEMBER 14TH Jean Moreau and I attended the District Meeting held at Oscoda Post 274. It was a small but informative gathering! A member of the Auxiliary was presented with an award and we had an Americanism Essay winner! Patricia Jaynes received a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition and appreciation of being the most Senior Member of Unit 18 having been a continuous member since 1962! Congratulations and thank you, Patricia, for your 57 years of service! Americanism Award – Grace M. Sayles was awarded 1st Place in the National Americanism Essay Contest Class 5 (this is for the 11th & 12th grade entrants).