“Big Four” veterans service organizations align
Present united front in lobbying state for veterans rights
Story by
Will Henry
A 2015 study published
by wallethub.com ranks two
Hoosier cities, Indianapolis
and Fort Wayne among the
worst 100 cities for veterans,
at 92nd and 95th respectively.
The state overall gets even
worse ratings for military
retirees, ranking at dead
last, 51st in the nation after
Washington, D.C.
Indiana has an overall
population of approximately
6.5 million citizens. The
veteran population hovers at
around a half million, which
means federally recognized
veterans make up nearly
eight percent of the overall
population. Those numbers
do not include former or
current military members
of the National Guard or
Reserves who did not serve
more than 180 consecutive
days on active duty. Those
former service members
aren’t considered veterans by
the federal government.
Indianapolis is second
only to Washington D.C. for
memorials and monuments
dedicated to the service and
sacrifice of Hoosier veterans
during wartime service.
With such a large population
of veterans, and a rich veteran
heritage in the state, why is
Indiana ranked so low when
it comes to veteran benefits?
It is a lack of concern by
lawmakers, and a lack of
advocacy in the Indiana
General Assembly. on behalf
of veterans by legitimate
federally recognized veteran
service organizations.
Has there been VSO
presence? Some, but of late
we are growing in action.
In response to the lack of
action by lawmakers, four
legitimate VSOs have been
working together and in
conjunction with other VSOs
and associations to advocate
for better benefits for Hoosier
veterans.
We are actively working
with the Indiana Departments
of Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Disabled American Veterans
and American Veterans. We
have combined our matching
priorities to advocate better
benefits and have been
working at the state house
to have a presence, and
show support on certain
bills moving through the
legislative process.
These four organizations
combined are known to most
in the veteran community
as the “Big Four.” This
is because they are the
four largest organizations
in the state whose parent
organizations are federally
chartered.
How we got rolling…
In August, The American
Legion,
Department
of
Indiana was contacted by
leaders at the Indiana Bureau
of Motor Vehicles to discuss
some concerns with Title 9
of the Indiana Code. Title 9
deals with all things BMV
and their concerns focused
on veteran- specific topics
including veteran indicators
on state IDs, and establishing
standard definitions of a
veteran in the Indiana Code.
The BMV talked with us
regarding their concerns
and Cmdr. Larry Lowry
immediately
suggested
we include the other three
organizations to get their
input on these topics.
A meeting was scheduled
with
the
commanders,
adjutants and legislative
leaders of all four of the VSOs
to review the topics for the
BMV and to return our input
on what the organizations had
decided.
On POW/MIA Recognition
Day, the four organizations
met at the Columbia Club,
downtown Indianapolis in a
private meeting to discuss the
matters. Conclusions were
reached and agreed upon. Our
results were handed back to
the BMV to request changes
be made to legislators to
update the Title 9 Indiana
Code.
Moving forward…
With the upcoming
legislative session looming,
all four organizations had
their
annual
legislative
priorities outlined. Over the
next few months, the Big
Four continued to meet and
work out a committee system
to align legislative priorities.
The group established a
working
committee
and
defined a collective priorities
list.
The priorities agreed
upon were 100 percent
matched by all four of the
organizations. This meant
all the organizations had
to agree and approve on all
of the items before moving
forward with the list into the
Indiana General Assembly.
The legislative priorities
that overlapped, or were not
fully agreed upon, were taken
back to each organization’s
legislative committees. These
could be looked examined
as potential priorities in the
future by each organization.
The List…
VETERAN
AFFAIRS ASSISTANCE
• To open the Military Family
Relief Fund to allow access to
all veterans from all eras with
or without children to benefit
from the grant fund
• Congressional Charter Date:
Sept. 16, 1919
•
The
American
Legion,
Department of Indiana currently
serves
more
than
85,000
members statewide.
• Serves approximately 2.2 million
members nationwide
excise tax credit for a vehicle, Forces or their
components.
boat, trailer, etc
MISSING IN AMERICA
• To work with Indiana funeral
homes and associative funeral
groups to identify and lay
to rest those veterans whose
mortal remains go unclaimed
in
facilities
throughout
• Congressional Charter Date: Indiana through the "Missing
in America Project."
June 17, 1932
• Disabled American Veterans,
Department of Indiana currently
serves nearly 18,000 members
statewide.
• Serves approximately 1.4 million
members nationwide
• Congressional Charter Date:
May 28, 1936
• Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Department of Indiana currently
serves
more
than
31,400
members statewide.
• Serves approximately 1.7 million
members nationwide
reserve
VETERANS
AFFAIRS
ASSISTANCE FUNDING
• Increase funding for the
Indiana
Department
of
Veterans Affairs Trust Fund
COUNTY
VETERAN
SERVICE
OFFICER
TRAINING
• Support annual training
and accreditation for county
VETERAN COURTS
• Expand veterans courts veteran service officers as it
to allow veterans to access is outlined for IDVA in the
services, or transfer veteran Indiana Code
cases
county-to-county,
As of today, Feb. 20, 2016,
regionally, or throughout the
a handful of legislative
State of Indiana
priorities have survived the
Indiana General Assembly
HOOSIER
VETERAN DEFINITION committees and floor votes.
• Establish the definition of This is great news, especially
"Hoosier Veteran" in Indiana on an off-budget year. These
Code. The recommended include the Missing in
definition: "Hoosier veteran" America Project, SB 145, The
means an individual who is Military Family Relief Fund,
a resident, or their permanent SB 295, Property Tax issues,
home of record is located SB 304, and the definition of
within Indiana, and currently a Hoosier Veteran HB 1313.
serves in any branch of the
United States Armed Forces For more information on
or their reserve components, the Department’s work in
or has received an other than legislation, please visit:
bad conduct, or dishonorable http://www.i ndia nalegion.
discharge or separation, from org/legislative
the United States Armed
Photo by John Crosby, Department Communications Director
• Congressional Charter Date:
July 23, 1947
• American Veterans, Department
of Indiana currently serves more
than 4,500 members statewide.
• Serves approximately 250,000
members nationwide
The American Legion, Department of Indiana Cmdr. Larry Lowry
testifies in support of the original language for Indiana Senate Bill 295,
authored by Sen. Jim Banks, District 17, to move through the Indiana
General Assembly Senate Appropriations Committee at the state
house in Indianapolis, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. The bill was originally
intended to expand the Military Family Relief Fund eligibility from
strictly post 9/11 veterans to all wartime veterans across the state.
IN THIS ISSUE
EDUCATION
• Reinstate past statutes
regarding
the
remission
of college tuition fees
for children of veterans
with
service-connected
disabilities, as it was prior to
2011 and repeal IC 21-14-42.5
TAXES
• Raise the property tax cap
for all service-connected
disabled veteran homeowner
tax exemptions
• Raise limits and annual
credit cap for veterans who
do not own real property for
Photo by John Crosby, Department Communications Director
The American Legion, Department of Indiana Cmdr. Larry Lowry
speaks at a press conference held by the Big Four, Friday, Jan. 29,
2016, at the Indiana State House, side-by-side with veteran brothers
and sisters of the VFW, DAV and AMVETS. The Indiana leadership of
each announced a united front between organizations to make Indiana
a better place to live for veterans. Currently, Indiana has an estimated
population of near a half million veterans, however we are ranked
among the lowest in quality of life for veterans. The “Big Four” veterans
organizations are consolidating their legislative priorities to create a
unified front this 2016 legislative session, and for years to come.
Commander’s, Adjutant’s Corner, 2
Chaplain, Membership, NEC,
Historian, auxiliary 3
sal & rehabilitation, 4
district commanders articles, 5 & 6
Statewide veteran total:
Approximately 490,382
Statewide Big Four Total:
138,900 members
National veteran total:
Approximately 28.1 million
National Big Four Total:
5.3 million
Commissions fall conf. minutes, 6 & 7
Vietnam Legion Couple, 8
WWII Veterans, 70-Year Members, 9
Christsmas donations, tfa, 10
Leading Legionnaire Letters
Greetings to my Hoosier
Legionnaires and everyone
in our great American
Legion Family. We are
moving right along this
Legion year. This edition
of the Hoosier Legionnaire
marks the half-way point
to Department Convention.
This is no time to slow
down. We need to dig our
heels in and really start
selling membership. We
are 85% to this year’s goal
but the fight isn’t over.
We are really starting
to feel the effects of the
dues increase. It’s time for
our members to focus on
working our programs in
our posts and communities.
We need to communicate
our American Legion story
to the state and nation.
Building
membership
starts at with our individual
members like you, working
the programs and telling
your story. Thank you
for everything you do!
Remember, “We Change
Lives!”
We’re looking forward
to several Legion events
on our Calendar. First,
we recognize the Four
Chaplains story on Feb. 3.
Four Chaplains Day is a
day few discuss but a story
all should know about.
It’s a day we remember
four military chaplains,
all of different faiths,
who joined together and
sacrificed themselves to
save others. This day of
remembrance
reminds
us we are all Americans,
despite differences of faith,
race or heritage. The Four
Chaplains gave up their
own life jackets to others
and prayed together when
their transport ship, the
U.S.A.T Dorchester, was
torpedoed 80 miles south
of Greenland on February
3, 1943.
Next we look forward
to our annual Lincoln
Pilgrimage. This year
we recognize the 82nd
annual Lincoln Pilgrimage
ceremony at Oak Ridge
Cemetery in Springfield,
Ill., Feb. 12, 2016. Since
1935, Springfield Post #32,
The American Legion has
commemorated President
Lincoln’s birthday. We
thank our brothers and
sisters there for their
hospitality.
Finally, we look forward
to
the
Washington
Conference. Our Legion
leadership
will
meet
with our senators and
representatives
of
Congress and speak about
veterans issues. On this
year’s agenda, we focus
on the national defense
plan, the breakdown of
the VA Choice program
and holding VA officials
accountable
for
their
actions. We will also take
2016 MEETING DATES
some time out to visit,
explore and honor our
nation’s heroes buried at
Includes Official Holidays for
Arlington Cemetery, and
to visit Mount Vernon
National Headquarters Staff
on George Washington’s
February 16 – 19
Birthday. The conference Department Service
Officers School – Washington, DC
culminates with National
Cmdr.
Dale
Barnett
February 21 – 24
addressing
the
Joint
Washington Conference
Committee on Veterans
Affairs.
March 25
GOOD FRIDAY HOLIDAY
The Department continues
to focus on veterans issues
April 15 – 17
at home as well. Currently,
Oratorical Contest Finals – Indianapolis, Indiana
we are teaming up with
the “Big Four” the nation’s
May 2 – 5
four
largest
federally
Spring Meetings
chartered veteran services
organizations. Currently,
May 30
Indiana is estimated to
MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
have one of the highest
veterans populations in
July 4
INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY
the nation at near half a
million. However, Indiana
July 22 – 30
is ranked among the lowest
Boys Nation – Washington, DC
in the nation in providing
benefits and support to
19 – 23
our veterans and military Junior Shooting SportsJuly
Tournament – Colorado Springs,
retirees according to the
Colorado
Department of Veterans
Affairs. The American
July 28 – 30
Legion, Veterans of Foreign
Department Service Officers School – Indianapolis,
Wars, Disabled American
Indiana
Veterans, and American
July 28 – 30
Veterans
are
working
Membership Workshop
together to change this by
combining their legislative
August 11 – 16
priorities and lobbying
American
Legion
Baseball
World Series – Shelby, North
at the state Capitol for
Carolina
veterans rights and benefits.
I look forward to seeing
August 26 – September 1
everyone
at
Spring
98th Annual National Convention – Cincinnati, Ohio
Conference. Thank you
for your continued service
September 5
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
to our veterans, to Indiana
and to the nation.
September 16 – 18
Duty, Honor, Country
Children & Youth Conference
No Sacrifice Too Great!
September 23 – 25
Americanism Conference
(encompasses Baseball, Boys State, Chaplain, Oratorical
& Scouting programs)
October 10 – 13
Fall Meetings
October 23 – 28
National Legion College
November 11
VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY
The NCAA, Women’s Basketball, Division II would like to honor our Vietnam veterans by providing them
free tickets to their National Championship game to be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, April 4, at 3 p.m.
Veterans and their families will be honored during the first and second quarter. All veterans will receive
NCAA challenge coins and The American Legion, Department of Indiana leadership will be recognized.
Call the Department to receive your free tickets at 317-630-1300 or register online at:
www.indianalegion.org/links
The last half of the 2015-2016
American Legion year is
underway with a full calendar
of events and activities ahead
of us. It began with the annual
Mid-Winter Conference, which
featured a record number
of resolutions presented for
consideration by the Executive
Committee, as well as the firstever Department Legislative
Seminar. It is moving rapidly
toward the annual Lincoln
Pilgrimage, the Washington
Conference, the traditional
Four Chaplains Sunday and,
of course, American Legion
Birthday celebrations around
the state.
Elsewhere in this issue,
you will find a report of the
disposition of resolutions
considered at Mid-Winter
Conference. Although many
of them are endorsements of
office hopefuls, many also
directly affect veterans’ lives
and their concerns. Take
a moment to go over the
report, and keep in mind that
resolutions are the best way
for posts and members to
influence the direction of the
Department.
Legislative activity at both
the state and federal level is
gaining more attention from the
2
Department than ever before.
In fact, as this is written,
Department
Commander
Larry Lowry is addressing
members of the news media
in the Indiana Statehouse to
re-affirm the Legion’s role and
responsibility as the state’s
premier veterans’ advocacy
group. He is joined by the
commanders of three other
federally chartered veterans
service
organizations
in
announcing a common front
on behalf of veterans, and, he
will renew this commitment
early next month when he and
the others meet with Governor
Mike Pence to underscore our
legislative priorities.
Nearly 50 members
of Indiana’s Legislative
Committee,
Legislative
Council and the corps of
leadership attended the
Legislative Seminar during
the conference, which served
to lay the groundwork for
continued involvement in the
legislative process.
***
Our posts and districts are
to be complimented for the
aggressive
and
assertive
handling of changes resulting
from the approved per capita
increases taking effect this
month.
As of the January deadline,
374 posts submitted new
rates or confirmed current
rates to assure that renewal
notices go out with accurate
dues reflected on them. In
addition, as of the Mid-winter
Conference, 84.78 percent of
our members had renewed.
Those of you who are still
undecided whether or not
you will renew, remember
an old maxim, “It’s not the
price you paid to belong
that matters; it’s the price
you paid to be eligible.” As
National Commander Dale
Barnett says, “The American
Legion changes lives.” Your
membership changed yours,
and it can help change someone
else’s.
***
The National Adjutant
has distributed a warning to
Legionnaires across the county
to be wary of a solicitation by
a well-known data services
provider to sell equipment.
The offer comes via email
and describes the offer as “a
benefit for American Legion
members…” The offer is not
endorsed by The American
Legion and the National
Judge Advocate has issued a
cease and desist order to the
sponsoring company.
Another warning deserves
your attention, this one coming
from our long-time business
partner, the Legionnaires
Insurance
Trust,
which
provides free AD&D coverage
to our members as well as
a variety of other insurance
products. Be aware that
another insurance marketing
agency is contacting posts
with an offer of free AD&D
coverage for members. There
is one big difference: in order
to receive the free AD&D from
the offending company, your
members will be subjected to
in-home marketing designed
to upsell additional products.
The LIT and its parent, AGIA,
markets its products exclusively
by mail. No home visits are
ever requested or made, and
the LIT’s record on payment
of benefits is unblemished. In
addition the Trust returns a
portion of premium paid to the
Department of Indiana annually
– the total of which is nearing
$3 million since the partnership
began in 1991. The activities
of the Trust are overseen by a
Board of Directors made up
exclusively of representatives
from the member Departments
– your Department Adjutant is
a member of that Board. You
are encouraged to contact the
Department when questions
come up about insurance
offerings.
***
Good news for Legionnaires
with low digit license plate
numbers: According to the
Indiana Bureau of Motor
Vehicles, “Due to a change in
Indiana regulations, low digit (1
– 100) license plate cycles have
been extended from 5 years to
7 years.”
Our organization’s plate life
cycle was previously scheduled
to end in 2016 but will now end
in 2018. Accordingly, there are a
couple of changes taking effect:
• Low digit plates may not be
reassigned until 2019 (first year
of next plate cycle)
• Anyone who currently has
a low digit plate registered may
continue to renew that same
number (without authorization)
until the plate cycle ends (2018)
• A low digit assignment
form will be required upon
renewal in 2019, even if they
are keeping the same number
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
The Legion License Plate
program is one of the BMV’s
most successful specialty plate
offerings, having survived a
significant reduction in the
number of different plate
offerings several years ago
because of the high volume
of sales. The Department
encourages
members
to
purchase the plate. No
authorization form is required,
other than for the low-digit
numbers, and a portion of
the fee is returned to the
Department.
***
It’s not too early to start
thinking about the 2016
National
Convention,
scheduled for August 25
through September 1, 2016, in
Cincinnati. The Department
will be housed in the
Hilton Netherlands Plaza
Hotel, a block away from
the Convention Center and
convenient to many downtown
attractions. The room rate for
king singles, double-doubles
and ADA compliant rooms
is $133 per night, plus 17.5
percent room tax, or $156.27
total. Special parking rates,
both self-park and valet, have
been arranged.
Visit the website (www3.
hilton.com /en / hotels/ohio/
hilton-cincinnati-netherlandplaza) for a view of the
historic hotel and all it has to
offer. Reservations must be
made through the Department
Headquarters;
reservation
forms
and
additional
information will be available
at the Spring Conference in
Indianapolis.
Twitter @IndyLegion
Leading Legionnaire Letters
all important and the training
and processing of programs
are vital to our organization.
Hats off to all who give their
time and talents to make the
Department of Indiana one of
the best!
At our Religious Emphasis
Committee meeting we were
reminded to be aware of and to
participate in “Buddy Check 22
It was certainly good to see Day”. For those of you who are
everyone
at
Mid-Winter not aware, on the 22nd of each
Conference and to catch up month we are encouraged to
on life events that have been call a veteran we know and ask
taking place. It is always good how he or she is doing. Why the
to see some new faces and 22nd of each month? Because
to see some of the younger 22 veterans commit suicide
generations
moving
into each day!
leadership. The meetings are
The closing phrase of our
preamble states, “To consecrate
and sanctify our comradeship
by our devotion to mutual
helpfulness.” This has always
had special meaning for me
each time I recite it. I do not
take caring for others lightly.
I believe this is the best that
we have to offer each of our
members. We care about you!
We are not out to just gain
membership or to promote our
programs, but we care about
our membership.
“Buddy Check 22” is an
easy program to participate in.
Spending a couple of minutes
once a month purposely
reaching out to another veteran
has intrinsic value no matter
how you look at it. You can never
lose by letting someone know
that you care about him or her.
Every time we contact someone
we can learn something new
and perhaps offer support that
might enhance their life in a
special way. This is always a
win!
Think though, about that one
call that might be placed at the
right time that could make the
difference between life and
death. Few if any of us will
call someone at the moment of
actual demise. However, most
conclusions that a person makes
come from a series of events
and experiences. The rudder on
a ship is very small, but it alters
the course! Your phone call or
your act of connection could
so alter the course of a person’s
life.
I don’t care if you actually
participate in “Buddy Check
22” specifically or not. You
may have another method or
program that you use or that
speaks to you. The issue is
letting our comrades know
that we care and that they are
important to us. Think about
someone you can reach out to. It
could be a very, very important
contact!
Love each other with genuine
affection, and take delight in
honoring each other.
Rom 12:10 NLT
that maybe the dues increase
would spark more posts to
really work hard and become
100% by the end of the year,
but it just didn’t turn out that
way.
A big “Congratulations”
goes out to my fellow ‘Stache
Man’, Jay Hillard and his 4th
District Legionnaires who
finished on top at Mid-Winter
Mid-Winter Conference has Conference with 85.30%
come and gone along with the of their membership target.
dues increase. I was hoping By doing this, Jay has won
a trip to Washington, D.C.
in February as the National
Organization goes to D.C. to
visit Capitol Hill to advocate
for Veterans’ Rights.
Also traveling to D.C. will
be 7th District Commander
Ron Patton by having turned
in the most membership cards
between our membership Stop
6 and Stop 7 behind the 4th
District.
As we begin the second
half of our Convoy around
the state, I am asking every
Legionnaire to do just one
thing: sign up a new member.
Our Post membership team
will take care of renewals.
If each of us would sign
up a new member, and we
all probably know someone
who is eligible, look what that
would do to our membership
numbers!
As of the time I am writing
this article, the Department
of Indiana has 2419 new
members and we need 15,911
members new and renewing
to reach our target of 87,500.
With that one new member
from each of you, look what
would happen to the total
number of members!
It would be truly Duty,
Honor, Country with No
Sacrifice Too Great for
Commander Lowry and the
Department of Indiana. I
thank you in advance.
donation following one of their
fund raisers. I was invited to
a dinner meeting where they
made a presentation of $2,000.
This donation from a nonveteran service organization is
very special as the Lion’s club
have many projects of their
own where these dollars could
have been used.
The American Legion Riders
and Auxiliary of Osceola Post
308 donated $5,000 to OCW
and $1,500 to Indiana Veterans
Home. Middlebury Post 210
Golf Committee donated
$1,000 to OCW. Thank you all
for your support of OCW.
In February, members
of the department will be
traveling
to
Washington
D.C. for the Washington
Conference. National Cmdr.
Dale Barnett will address
members of Congress on
key issues of the American
Legion. Some of the issues
to be discussed are: care for
mental health issues, provide
transition assistance, expand
employment
opportunities,
protect our nation, improve
VA experience, end veteran
homelessness, and protect the
American flag.
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly
has been very active in
writing legislation in our fight
against military suicide. The
Servicemember and Veteran
Mental Health Care Package
will improve the quality of
mental health care provided
to our servicemembers in
communities across Indiana
and throughout the country.
Last year, 434 servicemembers
took their own lives, making
it the third straight year that
more servicemembers have
been lost to suicide than in
combat, and it is estimated that
we lose 22 veterans to suicide
every day.
U.S. Congresswoman Jackie
Walorski,
representing
Indiana’s 2nd District, has been
actively involved with working
to find solutions to the heroin
epidemic in Indiana. She met
with fellow members of the
House Bipartisan Task Force to
Combat the Heroin Epidemic to
hear from experts to continue
discussing drug treatment
programs that can produce the
most successful recovery rates
among heroin users.
She introduced legislation
requiring
all
Veteran
Administration
Medical
Centers in Indiana and across
the nation to participate in
their respective state’s drug
monitoring program. The bill
increases transparency by
requiring VAMCs to provide
specific information about
the prescription of opiates
and other narcotics to their
corresponding
statewide
prescription drug monitoring
program. She wrote a letter
to Defense Secretary Ashton
Carter
requesting
more
information regarding how
the Department of Defense
plans to minimize drug
addiction after recent reports
detailed a rise in the misuse of
prescription drugs by members
of the Armed Forces.
One of the most exciting
opportunities of serving you
as your National Executive
Committeeman is to speak
to organizations about the
American Legion. One of
these opportunities was to
speak to the Lakeville, Ind.,
Lions Club about Operation
Comfort Warriors. After my
presentation, they informed
me they would make a
From the historian’s files & Archives
The 100th Anniversary
Observance Committee sets
goals! The New Year has started
off with the second meeting
of the 100th Anniversary
Observance Committee during
the Mid-Winter Conference
held at the Marriott East in
Indianapolis.
Seven districts were
represented on Jan. 16, and while
the group was small in number,
it didn’t lack enthusiasm. The
meeting opened with a salute
to the Colors and a prayer.
The minutes of the inaugural
meeting, held in October 2015,
were read and approved, which
basically set the agenda for the
current meeting.
The discussions covered the
Department of Indiana’s potential
for conducting a history contest,
the planning of events for the 100th
Anniversary of The American
Legion, and the encouragement at
the post level for compiling post
histories and posting them on
National’s website.
The two members who were
present updated the group
that Broad Ripple Post 3 had
completed a history and West
Noble Post 243 is compiling a
great amount of data to be used
for its history. I mentioned that
district representatives should
continue at every opportunity
to suggest to post historians that
one or two pages could easily be
added to the Centennial section
of National’s website located at
http://www.centennial.legion.
org/histories/indiana
Once these few pages were
there, additional material could
be added to the site over time.
Those few pages could contain
such information as the post’s
charter date, location of the
post since its charter, the dates
when meetings are held, and
the current officers. The second
page could list all the previous
commanders and adjutants
and their terms of office. If the
information is not available
at the post, then a call to
Department Headquarters will
bring that material to hand.
Having done this, it will be
easy to continue. Collect pieces
of the current commander’s
travels and of the post’s activities
during the 12 months. Include
some photographs. It should
be a fairly easy task of finding
volunteers from amongst the
members, or the Auxiliary or
from the Sons of the American
Legion, to help with the project.
Once completed (guidelines
can be found at http://www.
legion.org/publications/160963/
post-officer-guide-and-manualceremonies page 149), the
compiler may like to enter the
department’s history contest,
the cutoff date being June 1.
The winner of that contest will
be submitted as an entry to the
National Historian’s History
Contest for judging in October.
At every opportunity, district
and department officers should
remind post members that if they
don’t record the activities during
the year, then this information
may be lost forever. And for
those who compile a book for the
Community Involvement contest,
adapting it for the history contest
should be quite easy.
Question: what other ways
can the department, districts,
and posts create events and
opportunities to celebrate the
100th year of the National
Organization? We need to
put on our thinking caps and
suggest how we can turn the
eyes of the public to us. Any
suggestions, please send them
to me [email protected]
Indiana Legion Auxiliary
I hope that every one of the
American Legion Family
had a very Merry Christmas
and their New Year is off to
a great beginning. It is hard
to believe that there is only
six months left until the
American Legion Family
officers year will come to an
end. The Legion has given
the other officers and myself
the opportunity to join them
for many events this year.
The latest was to attend
the Legislative Meeting
to get ready for the trip to
Washington DC. It was a
very interesting meeting
and helped prepare us for Upcoming Events
the trip. We also will be
& Department
joining the Legion Family
Visitation
on the trip to Springfield,
8th District-Santa Claus
Ill. We are looking forward
#242- Sunday, March 13
to it.
Just a small reminder that we
5th District-Tipton
are still accepting donations
#46-Saturday, March 19
to my two projects this year;
Operation Comfort Warriors
6th Distirct-Carmel
and medical equipment for
#155-Sunday, March 20
Indiana Veterans Home. Just
a little hint.
7th District-Bloomington
On a personal note, I want
#18-Saturdyay, April 2
to let the membership know
that Legion Office staff is
10th District-Shelbyville
an outstanding group of
#70-Tuesday, April 12
people. They are ready to
help in any way you ask. So
3rd Distirct-Nappanne
from me to all of the staff
#154-Saturday April 16
thank you for the great job.
The Department Legion
Juniors Fun Day @ IVH
and Auxiliary have a great
working relationship and for March 19- Come help play
Bingo with the residents
this I am very thankful.
Thanks to all veterans
Joint Spring Conference
and their families for their
service and God Bless you. April 8-9 Auxiliary Meetings
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
Facebook.com/IndianaLegion
3
Indiana sons of the American Legion
Greetings from your Sons of
The American Legion. MidWinter translates to midyear.
For some the attitude is that
it’s almost over and we are on
a downhill slide. It’s easy to
adopt the attitude that soon all
of the headaches and hassle will
be gone and someone else will
be dealing with the issues we
face. Though this might seem
to be the case, I have a different
opinion. You see, I feel that
we are half way through the
year, which means we are only
half way up the mountain. The
second half can be the hardest
part of our journey.
Let me try to explain. At Mid-
Winter Conference we had an
awesome membership card turn
in with around 2,200 cards. This
put us 1,500 over where we were
last year at this time. We also had
many generous donations made
to my two projects, amounting
more than $1,500.
With that said, the last 25%
of our membership may seem
to be a challenge to get, for the
simple fact some members may
have moved or have forgotten to
renew. It will take a little more
effort.
As far as the Child Welfare
Foundation, we have a long way
to go to reach our goal. I have
asked for a dollar a member
from all Squadrons with an
ultimate goal of $48,000. We
currently sit roughly at $0.35 a
member. My other project, The
Indy Vet House, is doing well. I
challenged each district to raise
$1,000. We are halfway there on
that goal.
I know we start to get tired
when we reach halfway. By
now we have attended more
meetings then we can count on
our fingers and traveled enough
miles to equal a vacation get
away. But now is the time to
focus on why we belong to this
great organization.
We must not adopt the attitude
of the downhill slide, we must
set our sights to the top of the
mountain! I am fully confident
in my team who have already
been working hard at all of
our goals to continue to push
forward. Keep encouraging
each other to reach the top!
Department Veteran service officer
Veterans Affairs Medical
Errors Compensation
Using studies published from
2008 to 2011, a September
2013 Journal of Patient Safety
article* estimates that more
than 400,000 patients die each
year from preventable hospital
errors. The same article further
notes serious harm associated
with hospital care “seems to
be 10-to-20 fold more common
than lethal harm. An October
23, 2013 Hospital Safety Score
article** notes medical errors
are the third leading cause of
death in the United States.
Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Medical facilities
are not exempt from medical
errors. There are two options
available for veterans incurring
additional disability caused
by VA medical services. The
veteran may file either a federal
tort claim or a VA compensation
claim, or both.
A tort claim is a legal issue
claimants initiate by filing a
Standard Form 95 with the
VA district council having
jurisdiction over the VA
medical facility involved. If the
VA district council believes the
veteran has a valid claim, it will
contact the veteran in an attempt
to negotiate a settlement. The
VA district council will try to
pay as little as possible when
negotiating a settlement. If the
veteran or VA will not settle, the
veteran could then continue the
tort claim into federal court.
The American Legion does
not represent veterans with
tort claims. We highly advise
veterans to seek the services of
an attorney before filing a tort
claim. The tort claim is filed
“against” the VA, and, unlike
compensation claims, VA is not
under an obligation to resolve
reasonable doubt in favor of
the veteran. In fact, VA will
do everything it can to reject
a tort claim. Tort claims also
have filing deadlines making
contacting an attorney as soon
as possible very important.
The American Legion can,
however, represent veterans with
administrative United States
Code (USC) 1151 claims for VA
compensation benefits. These
USC 1151 benefits are paid when
evidence shows the veteran
incurred additional permanent
disability or death caused by
carelessness, negligence, lack of
proper skill, error in judgment
or similar instance of fault on
the part of the VA health care
system. The veteran can file a
USC 1151 claim by using a VA
Form 21-526EZ. If VA grants
USC 1151 benefits, VA will
provide compensation with
monthly payments in the same
way VA pays service connected
compensation benefits.
The veteran can file both a tort
claim and a USC 1151 claim. If,
however, both claims are won,
VA will withhold payment of
the 1151 compensation benefits
until the tort claim settlement
or award have been recouped in
full.
Veterans or their survivors
interested in filing a tort claim
should contact an attorney
before filing. Those persons
interested in filing USC 1151
claims should first discuss doing
so with a qualified County
Veterans Service Officer or
American Legion Department
Service Officer.
And, by the way, stay out of
hospitals if at all possible. They
are apparently dangerous places.
*http://goo.gl/U8DOy2
**http://goo.gl/2hKSMU
Department service office Update
45: Joe Mandil, Post 155; Bob
Shaler, Post 34; Juan Sanders,
Post 186; Allen Connelly, Post
215; George Alyea, Post 500;
David Sharber, Post 5; Mike
Baumbardner, Post 129; Glenn,
Post 8; Jasmin Pettiford, Post
249; Brien Engelheds, Post 53;
Marshall Terrs, Post 249; and
Frankie Billingsley, Post 148.
National Service Issues
Photo by John Crosby, Communications Director
From Left: Department Service Office staff VSO Dave Wilson, Director
John Hickey, Secretary Kim Shriver, VSO Bryce Hullett, Senior
Secretary Lori McIlquham, VSO Richardy Boye and VSO Steven Hicks.
Our Department Service Officers are among the most knowledgable
and experienced in the nation. Learn more about the Department of
Indiana’s Service Office at on our website at:
www.http://indianalegion.org/veterans-affairs-and-rehabilitation
Department Service Office
February Business Hours
The Department Service
Office will be open each
Monday through Friday from
7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Appointments are necessary
for client visits. You may
contact
the
Department
Service Office by calling our
direct number of 317-9163605; calling a long distance
toll free number of 1-888-7237999, extension 1; faxing us at
317-916-3406; or by e-mail at:
[email protected]
Local Service Issues
Post Service Officer Award
Nominations
Each year, the National
Veterans
Affairs
and
Rehabilitation
Commission
and The American Legion,
Department
of
Indiana
acknowledges the contributions
of exceptional post service
officers with a national
Meritorious Service Citation
and a department post service
officer award certificate.
Posts may nominate their
post service officers by
completing the “American
Legion
Department
of
Indiana Post Service Officer
Award Nomination” form and
returning it to the department’s
veterans service office address
noted on the form.
The form can be found at:
4
w w w. i n d i a n a l e g i o n . o r g /
veterans-affairs-andrehabilitation
Post Service Officers Attend
Service Officer Training
Seminar
American Legion department
service officers conducted
a training seminar for post
service officers at the MidWinter Conference on Saturday,
Jan. 16. Those present received
information to help post
members and other veterans
within their local communities
better understand veterans
benefits as well as where,
when and how to apply for
those benefits. These dedicated
volunteers help further the
goals of The American Legion
by selflessly giving their time
and service to other veterans,
their dependents and survivors.
Their efforts will allow many
more veterans’ to learn about
life changing benefits.
Hats off to the following
post service officers and
representatives for attending
the seminar: Allen Viduka,
Post 303; Cliff Morlon, Post
360; Ann Adcook, Post 510;
Julie Newell, Post 11; (name
not legible), Post 8; John
McGee, Post 238; Peter Noer,
Post 220; Gary Kain, Post 455;
Joseph Fuller, Post 4, Kevin
Hinton, Post 7; Phil Vonsick,
Post 28; Ron Bollengaugher,
Post 468; Jordan Kinkead, Post
VA
Proposes
Providing
Compensation
for
Disabilities
Associated
with Contaminated Water
Exposure at Camp Lejeune
The VA currently provides
healthcare services for veterans
having
certain
medical
conditions who served at
Camp Lejeune, from 1953
through 1987. The Secretary
of Veterans Affairs has also
decided to propose regulation
for allowing payment of
compensation
for
certain
conditions associated with
the contaminated water after
discussions were conducted
between the environmental
health experts at the Veterans
Health Administration and
the Department of Health and
Human Services Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry.
Those conditions include:
Kidney Cancer, Liver Cancer,
Non-Hodgkin
Lymphoma,
Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma,
Scleroderma,
Parkinson’s
Disease, and Aplastic Anemia/
Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
The Secretary’s proposal
would also expand benefit
eligibility to Reserve and
National Guard personnel who
served at Camp Lejeune for
any length of time from Aug.
1, 1953, through Dec. 31, 1987.
The VA would presume them
to have been exposed to the
contaminated water during
their Reserve or National Guard
service and, in appropriate
circumstances, to have been
disabled by such exposure
during service, thus allowing
them to qualify for VA benefits
under the statutory definition
of “Veteran.” This would make
them eligible for VA disability
compensation and medical
care for any of the presumptive
conditions, and their surviving
dependents would be eligible
for dependency and indemnity
compensation
and
burial
benefits.
VA is working on these
regulations and VA cannot
grant these claims until the
regulations become final, but
veterans who served at Camp
Lejeune between the above
mentioned dates and developed
a condition they believe is
related to the Camp Lejeune
drinking water should contact
a qualified veterans service
officer about filing a disability
compensation claim with VA.
(Source: VA News Release,
12/17/2015)
Federal tort claims and USC
1151 Compensation claims
If a veteran incurs additional
disability caused by negligent
VA health care services,
the veteran may file either
a federal tort claim or a VA
compensation claim, or both.
A tort claim is a legal issue
that should be submitted to
the VA district counsel using a
completed Standard Form 95. If
the VA district counsel believes
the veteran has a valid claim,
it will contact the veteran
in an attempt to negotiate a
settlement. The district council
will try to pay as little as
possible when negotiating a
settlement. If the veteran or
VA will not settle, the veteran
could then continue his/her tort
claim by filing in federal court.
The American Legion does not
represent veterans with tort
claims, but we highly advise
veterans to seek the services of
an attorney before filing a tort
claim. The tort claim is filed
“against” the VA, and unlike
compensation claims, VA is not
under an obligation to resolve
reasonable doubt in favor of
the veteran. In fact, VA will do
everything it can to not pay a
tort claim.
The American Legion can,
however, represent veterans
with a 38 USC 1151 claims for
VA compensation benefits due
to neglectful VA health care
services causing additional
permanent disability. The
veteran can file a 38 USC 1151
claim by using a VA Form 21-
526EZ. If VA grants 38 USC
1151 benefits, VA will pay
for the disability in the same
way it pays service connected
compensation benefits.
The veteran can file both a tort
claim and a USC 1151 claim. If,
however, both claims are won,
VA will withhold payment of
the 1151 compensation benefits
until the tort claim payments
have been recouped in full.
Inquiry
Routing
&
Information System (IRIS)
This VA webpage found
at
https://iris.custhelp.com,
provides additional resources
for obtaining VA information,
including: VA facility locations,
VA toll free numbers, a way to
obtain answers to VA Education
Assistance
inquiries,
an
eBenefits Portal, a Frequently
Asked Questions list, a place
to ask VA questions about VA
programs, and links to finding
the status of a pending claim,
obtain a copy of a DD Form
214 or other service record, VA
Forms, Aid and Attendance
and Housebound pension
information, general claims
processing time information,
direct deposit information,
information concerning jobs
and employment opportunities,
and much more.
Unclaimed Veterans Remains
For deaths after Jan. 10,
2014, VA will reimburse an
individual or entity that pays
for a casket or urn used to inter
the remains of an unclaimed
veteran interred in a VA
National Cemetery on or after
May 13, 2015. The current
maximum reimbursement cost
is $1,967 for a casket and $172
for an urn subject to an annual
established average cost.
Application for reimbursement
should be made on a VA
Form 40-10088 along with
documentation of the veteran’s
qualifying military service
and an appropriate bill of sale.
Caskets and urns must meet VA
National Cemetery standards.
More information is available
in the National Cemetery
Administration
Unclaimed
Veterans Remains Casket or
Urn Reimbursement Program
fact sheet at:
http://goo.gl/Xgc5eB
Department Chaplain Norris Keirn and the Religious Emphasis Committee
encourage Hoosier Legionnaires to reach out and check on someone you
know every month on the 22nd. Why the 22nd of each month? Because
22 veterans commit suicide each day. It’s a reminder for us to check on
our fellow veterans and show them we truly care. “The closing phrase of
our preamble states, ‘To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our
devotion to mutual helpfulness’,” said Keirn. “Buddy Check 22 is an easy
program to participate in. Spending a couple of minutes once a month
purposely reaching out to another veteran has intrinsic value no matter how
you look at it. You can never lose by letting someone know that you care
about him or her. Every time we contact someone we can learn something
new and perhaps offer support that might enhance their life in a special way.
Learn more here: https://goo.gl/phqoZI
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
Twitter @IndyLegion
from the District Commanders
Greetings from the 1st
District!
When the District
Officers and I started
this Legion year it was
with specific goals to
accomplish. One of
them was to increase
communication with the
posts within our district
with an emphasis on
face-to-face visits. I
truly believe we have
accomplished this as
either myself or one of
the membership team
have visited all physical
posts in the district at
least four times so far.
In doing this, we have
increased
awareness
of Legion Programs
tenfold. This is most
evident by the fact that
at the beginning we had
only three posts trained
to complete Children’s
Education and Welfare
Fund and Temporary
Financial
Assistance
requests. We now have
people in eight posts that
are fully trained,
more than double
what we started
out with. I have
to thank the 2nd
District and Post
94 for inviting us to
their post education
seminar in October.
A special thank you
to Bruce Steffen
for putting on a
wonderful, informative
program. These goals are
ongoing, I hope, for years
to come.
Another of our goals is
to increase community
involvement. In this area
we are moving forward
with the posts working
with
the
individual
communities on a variety
of projects. Our district,
along with members of
the Sons of the American
Legion and the Auxiliary,
are
partnered
with
Momentum Church of
Crown Point, Ind., in their
annual “Trunk or Treat”
event held on Oct. 30,
2015 at the Lake County
Fairgrounds. This was an
awesome event! There
were
approximately
12,000 to 15,000 people
attending from all over
Lake and Porter counties.
The 1st District made
an awesome showing
and gave out around
1500 brochures and
applications to eligible
veterans.
The next of our
many goals this year
was to increase our
electronic
signature
in this technologically
advancing world of
ours. For this we have
pages on both Twitter
and Facebook. Look
for us on Facebook at:
w w w.f a c e b o o k .c o m /
District1BrownBombers
and on Twitter at www.
twitter.com/Al1stDistIn1
Our website is moving
forward and should be
up sometime this spring.
Notifications will be sent
out when that happens.
Of course, one of
biggest
and
most
important of our goals
is Membership. With the
beginning of 2016 came
the dues increase. That’s
done with now! So the
1st district will move
forward and recruit,
recruit, recruit... That
along with our other goals
should translate into an
increase in membership
this year.
So far I truly feel
that this has been an
awesome year and send
my heartfelt thanks to
all of the members of the
first district for helping
to make this a successful
year.
I had the opportunity to
attend my first Oratorical
contest on Jan. 3. I
can’t begin to tell you
how impressive these
young people were. It is
refreshing to see kids that
are so dedicated to their
education. I look forward
to seeing the winner,
Collin Knohoff, again as
he moves on to the
next level of the
competition.
The Temporary
Financial Assistance is
one of the many great
programs offered by
the American Legion.
For two years in a row,
Indiana has ranked
first in the nation in
TFA disbursements.
This is proof that Hoosier
Legionnaires are diligent
in taking care of our fellow
Veterans.
I am repeating myself
by saying I am so very
proud of the hard work
of our 2nd District
Membership Team but
I just can’t thank these
people enough for their
dedication. So once again
thank you to Robert
Harding, Julie Newell, Bob
Pratt, Larry Burkhart, Rick
Sanders, Pete Amodei and
James Hall.
I want to congratulate
Bruce Steffen for another
great Post Education
Seminar. This second
seminar was held on Dec.
5, at Pierceton, Post 258
and had an even greater
turn out than the first.
These seminars give
posts the tools they need
to make the American
Legion successful and to
assist the members of their
post.
American Legion Pulaski
Post 357 family, including
Legion Riders, Auxiliary,
and Sons of the American
Legion,
spearheaded
by SAL Post 357 late
Commander
Lenny
Genchoff, and the whole
SAL raised $4,708 in
monetary donations and 4
boxes of new toys for Toysfor-Tots for needy families.
The SAL also adopted
three families through the
Salvation Army Kroc
Center and donated
$1,870 in gifts for
those families. The
kids Christmas party
was a huge success
this year with more
than 60 kids SAL
brought toys for in
the amount of $1,911.
American Legion
Pulaski Post 357
Legion, SAL, & Legion
Riders donated $300 ea. to
send Naval Sea Cadets to
Commissioning Ceremony
of USS Milwaukee in
Wisconsin.
Post
357
Family also donated $1,200
combined to 855th Army
Reserve Quarter Master
Co. for their family day
Christmas party.
Representatives
of
American Legion Pulaski
Post 357 family attended
the 855th Quartermaster
Company, Army Reserve
Family Christmas Party. It
was an honor and privilege
to spend time with these
fine young men and women
and their families.
Post 357 Auxiliary packed
24 bags with goodies for
the veterans at the Robert
Miller Veterans Center in
South Bend, Ind.
A special notice and
remembrance for SAL Post
357 Commander Lenny
Genchoff who passed
away on Dec. 29, 2015 in
his sleep. He left behind
many great impressions
in our hearts in his life
commitment of helping
veterans and children as
Hoosier Legionnaires.
Greetings from the 4th
District.
We’re very pleased
to be in first place in
membership! I just hope
that all of our teams will
keep working as hard to get
us to 100%. I’m very much
looking forward to the
Lincoln Pilgrimage,
and then the trip to
Washington D.C. for
conference. It sounds
like February will be
a very busy month.
We had a very
good time at the 4th
District Sons of the
American Legion
Gary
Gregory
Annual
Putt-Putt
outing. We had a fantastic
turn-out from all over the
state. It was a lot of fun and
we raised a lot of money
for the Honor Flight.
Our District Oratorical
Contest is now in the
books. We had four very
good contestants this
year. I would have hated
to be one of the judges as
the competition was very
close. We wish all the
winners the very best in
their advancements.
I am convinced that
participating
in
our
Children
and
Youth
Programs will better for
our chances of growth.
We had some parents,
grandparents, and even
one of the judges take
applications at Oratorical.
Follow-up is in progress.
Keep your powder dry
Hoosier Legionnaires!
at the time I began
writing this letter
The Mighty 5th
District is standing
with
renewed
strength.
The
commander and I
have been out on
the
membership
trail discussing the
My Fellow Legionnaires, changes throughout the
national
organization
and the Department
of Indiana with the
upcoming dues increase.
We also have been
focusing on our programs
and their importance to
our future as a Legion.
During our visit to the
posts within our district
we have been encouraged
by what we have seen.
A post which had
been struggling is now
flourishing. Posts are
completing a lot of
remodeling
projects,
gearing up for the
Americanism and Flag
Etiquette testing and
preparing
candidates
for
the
Oratorical
competitions.
However with the
holiday season quickly
approaching, let’s keep
in mind the families
that are in need. Posts
must continue to be
vigilant in our efforts
to look after our fellow
comrades and continue
to educate ourselves
and membership about
these programs that will
benefit such individuals.
The TFA and CEWF are
programs that our posts
are utilizing. Also, many
of our Legionnaires’
participated in Stand
Downs throughout our
districts.
It is with a heavy
heart to report the loss
of two great men, who’ve
done so much with in
the Legion family. The
persons of whom I speak
of are, Past Northern Vice
Commander
Michael
‘Jocko”
Comerford
and Past Department
Sergeant At Arms David
Ritenour. Please keep
these families in your
thoughts and prays as
well our men and women
serving in the Armed
Forces.
In closing, the Mighty
5th is strong in our
resolve, for God and
Country!
Greetings from the 6th
District,
With the Mid-Winter
Conference completed I
know that most of us are
looking toward spring and
warmer weather. One of
the meetings I attended
during the conference
was the Post Education
Committee meeting, led
by Assistant Director of
Youth Welfare Kimberly
Mezger from American
Legion
National.
Kimberly
presented
a training seminar on
The American Legion
Temporary
Financial
Assistance. The TFA
program is specifically
designed to assist minor
children
of
eligible
veterans with cash grants
which contribute to a
stable home environment.
These grants help families
meet the cost of shelter,
utilities, food and medical
expenses. The applications
for TFA should originate
at the post level. Each
post should have a person
who has the knowledge
to process TFA requests.
If you have questions
contact
Department
Program Director Butch
Miller at 317-630-1391
or by email at bmiller@
indlegion.org.
Membership
Our 2015-2016
membership
year
is
more than half over, we
need to get the word out
to our members and to
the community, how
The American Legion,
Department
of
Indiana fights for
veterans
rights,
helps
veterans
obtain benefits and
leaves a positive
impression on the
community through
volunteerism and
the many children
and youth programs.
Speaking
out
about Children & Youth
Programs
The 6th District
Americanism
and
Government Program has
determined the winners,
an 11th grade boy and girl.
They will be submitted to
the department to compete
against the other 10 district
winners. The winner or
winners will represent the
Department of Indiana at
the National level. These
reports were submitted
by our Americanism &
Government 6th District
Representative
Darrell
Bowman.
The 6th District held its
High School Oratorical
Contest
on
Sunday,
Jan. 10, at Avon Post
145, their new building.
There were four high
school contestants from
around the district. Each
contestant was required to
give an eight to ten minute
orientation of their own
creation on some aspect
of the U.S. Constitution.
They are not allowed to
use notes, a podium, or
a sound system for their
presentation. This year’s
first place 6th District
winner was Paige Murrell,
who is home schooled.
Paige will receive $100
and advance to the zone
competition which will
be held at Broad Ripple
Post 3 on Feb. 20th,
starting at 9:00 a.m. This
report was submitted by
Richard Culp 6th District
Oratorical Chairman.
I would like to give a
special thanks to both
Darrell and Rich for their
volunteerism with the 6th
District programs.
The Indiana Blue
Star held its 2nd annual
Spirit of Christmas at
the Hendricks County
Fairground in Danville,
Ind., on Dec. 19 2015.
Eighteen families of
veterans and service
members had their season
made a little brighter as
they received more than
600 gifts. One of the
young military families
with the Indiana National
Guard was in need for
their family car to be
repaired. The family
had three young girls,
all under the age of two,
were born with a lifethreatening
condition.
Indiana
Blue
Star
Director Ralph Zoccolillo
was contacted by Cars
for Heroes, a nonprofit
organization that fix and
donate cars to veterans
in need. The military
family was presented with
a 2002 Chevrolet Trail
Blazer. Michael Walker, a
retired Air Force veteran
and representative of Cars
4 Heroes says it’s great to
be able to help veterans
out and make their lives
better.
Remember the 6th
District has a new
website. Visit us at www.
indlegiondist6.org. If your
post has an event that you
would like to be listed on
the website, please contact
Darrell Bowman at 317719-2521.
In closing, remember
that it’s not the price you
pay to be a member but
it’s the price you or your
family members paid to
be eligible.
Duty, Honor, Country
No Sacrifice to Great
Greetings from the
Fighting 7th District.
We are coming into the
final stretch of this
year and this one
has been a wild ride.
I would like
to thank all of
our posts for the
community work
they have done. I
have been contacted
by numerous people
telling me how they
have been helped by
a post in a time of
need through either
a Temporary Financial
Assistance claim, or just
a helping hand.
Close of books will be
upon us before we know
it and the Fighting 7th
has a lot of work to do.
We are beginning to feel
the pressure as the dues
increase is now in effect.
Now more than ever we
need to start knocking
on doors and trying to
recruit new members.
Greetings from “The
Great Eighth”
Several good things
happened in our District
in the last quarter of
2015 and in early 2016.
• The annual auction
at
Boonville,
Ind.,
Warrick Post 200 made
more
than
$9,000
for
the
department
commander’s
and
department president’s
projects. In addition,
they donated $1,000
to Operation Comfort
Warriors with proceeds.
• Dale, Ind., Abe
Lincoln Post 44 donated
$1,200 for needy families
at
Christmas
time. They also
donated
several
hundred
dollars
to Lucas Place
II, a transitional
apartment complex
for
homeless
veterans, to build
up their food bank.
• In addition,
one of Post 44’s
Jr. Auxiliary members
Deanna
Woodward
organized a community
service
collection
drive for Lucas Place
II which was a huge
success. Many essential
items such as clothing,
cleaning
supplies,
blankets, etc., were
donated, as well as a
monetary donation to
purchase
additional
items to meet their
needs. Congratulations
to Deanna for a great
job.
• Branchville, Ind.,
Post 390, our new
prison post chartered
last spring, also donated
$500 to Lucas Place II.
One of the members
there
matched
the
donation with another
$500. They also donated
$1,400 to Operation
Comfort
Warriors.
They have donated
more than $5,000 to
various
community
projects since they were
chartered last year.
• At the MidWinter
Conference,
the 8th District also
had
five
winners
for
Americanism
&
Government,
Jr.
Americanism
&
Government, and Flag
Education & Etiquette.
Boonville High School
seniors Quentin Meier
and Alexis Gibson were
the A&G winners and
Boonville Middle School
student Cordell Heuring
was the 7th grade Jr.
A&G boy winner. The
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
Facebook.com/IndianaLegion
5
from the District Commanders
7th grade girl winner
for Jr. A&G was
Addison Clauss from
Holy Trinity in Jasper,
Ind., and the 4th grade
girl winner for Flag
Education & Etiquette
was
Ava
Fletcher
from Ferdinand, Ind.
Their awards will be
presented at the Spring
Conference in April.
Congratulations to all
the winners.
The 8th District
finished in 2nd place in
membership at the MidWinter Conference turnin, thanks to our hard
working
membership
chairmen Larry French,
Larry Burns and their
team. Several of the
vice commanders have
also been working their
posts in membership.
One of the things I have
talked about recently
is
the
difference
between “letting things
happen” or “making
things
happen”.
In
organizations
like
ours, 10% of the
members “make things
happen”. 70% of the
members “watch things
happen” and the other
20% “wonder what
happened”. They don’t
have a clue! Membership
is no different. If you just
wait for people to pay
their dues, it’s going to
take longer to reach your
goal, if at all. We need to
make a collective effort
to make phone calls,
send reminders, knock
on doors, etc. Because
of the recent dues
increase, the hard work
starts now and for us to
reach our membership
goal. We need to MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN!!!
Take Shirley M.
Ohta, who was born in
Wailuku, Hawaii, but
since 2000 she’s made
her home in Floyds
Knobs, Ind. She retired
from the Army in 1987
at the rank of colonel.
She continues to serve
Southern Indiana and
its military veteran
community. Her military
decorations include the
Bronze Star, Meritorious
Service Medal (with one
oak leaf cluster), Army
Commendation Medal
and various service and
overseas medals. She
is currently the owner
and CEO of Eagle Steel
Products, Inc. Retired
Colonel Ohta serves
with pride on many
community
involved
veterans organizations
and shines as an
example for all of us to
emulate. In 2012 she was
named the Department
of Indiana American
Legion
Auxiliary
Woman of the Year and
in 2014 she received the
Congressional Veterans
Commendation
from
Congressman
Todd
Young. Thank you for
your continued service
Shirley Ohta!
I need your input for the
Eighth District articles
going into the Hoosier
Legionnaire. If your
post or someone in your
post does something
newsworthy please send
it to me, Dave Sharber,
by e-mail to wobegone@
att.net or by mail at PO
Box 493 in Mt. Vernon,
IN 47620. We need
newsworthy
Legion,
veteran and communityrelated information. Be
proud of your post and
your Legion Family.
Share what they are
doing. No gossip please,
just news.
Hello again from the
9th District. It has been a
very busy 4th quarter in
the 9th.
To start off, we are
proud to say that
we have a candidate
seeking the position of
Department
Southern
Vice Commander Milton
Howard.
At the time of this
writing, Milton serves the
9th District as its finance
officer and the district’s
Children’s
Education
and Welfare chairman.
In the past, Milton has
served the 9th as vice
commander and district
commander. I believe
it is safe to say, anyone
who as met Milton would
have say he’s a
stand up person
and an outstanding
Legionnaire.
We
in the 9th wish
him well in his
endeavors
to
become southern
vice commander for
the Department of
Indiana.
Prior to the
holidays it was that time
of year for Clothe-aChild, our nursing home
visits to veterans, and to
put it frankly, helping
those less fortunate in our
district’s communities.
I am happy to say the
9th was out front in
responding to these
concerns.
We delivered more
than 400 nursing home
packets
to
veterans
thanks to Bill Scharold.
We visited and delivered
gifts to a Cincinnati
veterans care facility
thanks to Al Werner. We
passed out food baskets to
shut-ins throughout our
district, and we provided
clothing for children all
across the district during
the holidays. We also
provided gifts for veterans
and their families. Our
membership ought to be
applauded for their effort.
I would like to
address the 9th District
membership effort thus
far in this card year. I am
writing this article the
day before Mid-Winter
Conference and happy
to report that the ninth is
in 3rd place in the state.
Our Ladies Auxiliary
is 2nd and our Sons of
the American Legion is
number one. As district
commander, I say to each
and every one of you in
our Legion Family, thank
you.
In closing, to each and
every Legion Family
member in the 9th
District, I say keep up the
good work. Get involved
in our Legion programs,
sell
The
American
Legion every day and get
involved in our district.
You will never regret it.
Greetings from the
Commander and Officers
of the Friendly 11th
District.
The holidays are over
with, I hope they were
enjoyable for all members
of the American Legion
Family. I had a great time
being able to see everyone
that attended the MidWinter Conference. I
thought it was a learning
experience for all the
committees and their
chairmen.
We need greater
participation of the 11th
district membership at
our next district meeting
and
at
Spring
Conference taking
place in April. I
look forward to
seeing you there.
The dues have gone
up as of January, so
please check with
your
individual
posts if you have
not received an
updated
renewal
form. Please do so and
pay your dues as soon
as possible. Once again,
if you need a DD214 for
a veteran, go to http://
vetrecs.archives.gov. This
is a useful tool whether
it be for assistance or to
recruit a new member.
Remember, membership
is every Legionnaire’s
part!
When renewing or
recruiting, don’t forget
the benefits that you
receive as a Legionnaire.
The camaraderie, the
assistance you receive
in applying for goods
and discounted benefits
such as car rentals, hotels
and various businesses;
and the services that are
provided to veterans with
their families.
We look forward to
the 11th District Four
Chaplain’s
Service
which will be held
Feb. 7, at Kenneth N.
Dowden-Wayne Post 64
in Indianapolis. It was
a great way to honor
veterans and to further
the cause of “Unity
without Uniformity”
I am looking forward to
making a return visit to
all posts in 2016.
Again, I wish to
emphasize our district
members to remember
participate in your post
and district meetings. I
thank the entire American
Legion
Family
and
look forward to seeing
everyone at the Spring
Conference.
Disposition of Resolutions
Sixteen Resolutions were
Submitted at Mid-Winter
Conference.
Legislation, Funding Issues
Top DEC Agenda.
Sixteen resolutions were
submitted to the Department
of Indiana for consideration
by the Department Executive
Committee at its regular
session during the 2016
Mid-Winter Conference in
Indianapolis.
Among those approved was
Res. 2016M15, which added
three new objectives to the
Department’s
Legislative
Priorities for the 2016
Indiana General Assembly:
• Establish the definition
of “Hoosier Veteran” in the
Indiana Code as including
only those who have received
“any other than bad conduct,
or dishonorable discharge or
separation” from the United
States Armed Forces.
• Increase the funding
mechanisms for the Indiana
Department of Veterans
Affairs Trust Fund, which
is the primary source of
revenue for the Military
Family Relief Fund.
• Support annual training
and accreditation for county
veterans’ service officers as
outlined in the Indiana Code.
The DEC also gave its
go-ahead to promoting
the Indiana Department
of Veterans Affairs’ new
“Temporary
Assistance
for
Needy
Families”
program by passage of Res.
2016M10. Originating with
the Veterans Assistance
Committee, the measure
calls on the department to
employ “all appropriate
means”
to
encourage
participation in the program.
Participation,
according
to the IDVA, is critical for
assuring the renewal of the
grant by which the program
is funded.
With the approval of
Res. 2016M06, originating
with Bryon Cox American
Legion Post 72, the DEC is
on record as encouraging,
but not mandating, posts to
establish fund-raising goals
on behalf of the Friends of
Ernie Pyle, which operates
the Ernie Pyle Museum and
home in Dana, IN.
In other action, the DEC
approved Res. 2016M05,
surrendering the charter of
Claude Wilcox American
Legion Post 175; approved
Res. 2016M09, which
establishes
the
100th
Anniversary
Committee
as a permanent special
committee; and received
and recorded eight endorsing
resolutions:
• 2016M01, Thomas B.
Frederick for 4th District
Commander
• 2016M02, Michael A.
Pipher for SAL NEC
• 2016M03, Richie A.
King, Sr. for 5th District
Commander
• 2016M04, John Robert
Harding for 2nd District
Commander
• 2016M08, Kurt Pfeiffer for
8th District Commander
• 2016M12, John J.
Sarnecki, Sr. for 1st District
Commander
• 2016M13, John A. Klepfer
for 6th District Commander
• 2016M1, Richard “Doc”
Pfeiffer for SAL Detachment
Finance Officer
Resolutions 2016M11
and 2016M14 concerning
expanding
membership
eligibility
were
not
recommended
for
consideration by the DEC
and there being no objection,
were returned to the
originator.
Resolution 2016M07, was
withdrawn by the originator.
Mid-Winter commission reports
The Americanism Commission
met on January 16, 2016 at 4:30
p.m. in Salon A of the Marriott
East Hotel. Allen Connelly
opened the meeting in proper
form. Roll call disclosed eight
members present and two
were absent. The minutes
of the 2015 Fall Conference
were approved as printed in
the Hoosier Legionnaire. The
following committee reports
were received.
Baseball Committee
The
American
Legion
Baseball committee met at
1:00 p.m. in the Patriot Room
with Chairman Owen Wells
opening the meeting in proper
form. Roll call revealed sixteen
members present. The 1st
and 11th districts were not
represented. Twelve guests
were in attendance. Minutes
from the fall conference were
read and approved. Discussion
was held on the 12-man rule.
Teams must have twelve men
to start a tournament and at
least nine players to start and
end every game. National is
requiring that all Legion games
be played with Legion Logo
6
baseballs. Kokomo Post 6 will
host the state tournament July
22-26, 2016. The bid was in the
amount of $5,000. Steel cleats,
bubble gum, and seeds will be
prohibited on the field at the
state finals. Regionals must
be completed by July 19, 2016.
B-team State Tournament
takes place at the same time
as Regional, July 15-19, 2016.
Steve Brassfield and Johnathan
Pickett were appointed B-team
chairmen.
The
National
Regional is set for August 2-8,
2016. World Series will be
played August 11-16, 2016. You
must have a background check
prior to registering a team.
No department funds were
requested and no resolutions
were presented. The committee
will meet at spring conference.
The meeting was closed in
proper form.
Baseball Executive Committee
The
Baseball
Executive
Committee met at 10:00 a.m.
in the Patriot Room. The
committee voted to accept
new Executive Board members
Mel Vinson, 3-year term; Joe
Kusiak, 2-year term; Steve
Brassfield,
commander’s
Representative,
and
Don
Rapp, Vice Chairman. New
rule changes from National
will be incorporated into our
2016 rule book. Background
checks were discussed. It was
announced that Form 2 is due
by June 1, or before first game
played. Form 1 is due by June
20.
Golf Committee
The Golf Committee met at
11:00 p.m. in the Harrison
Room with the meeting being
called or order in proper form
by Chairman James Tracey.
Roll call revealed fourteen
members present. All districts
were represented. Two guests
were present. The passing of
Chairman Michael “Jocko”
Comerford was properly noted.
A number of rule changes and
regulations were unanimously
approved to reflect current
practice. In addition, a motion
was made and unanimously
passed to delete the portion
of rune #6 governing play
that limits to two the number
of golfers from one post on
a foursome. The 2016 State
Golf Tournament, to be hosted
by Harry Ray Post 65 in
Richmond, will be held June
18-19, 2016. Play will be at
Liberty Country Club and
Highland Lake Courses. Entry
forms must be postmarked no
later than May 31, 2016. The
2017 State Golf Tournament
bids must be received by March
31, 2017. No resolutions were
presented and no department
funds were requested. The
committee will meet at spring
conference. With no further
business at this time, the
meeting adjourned.
National
Security/Foreign
Affairs Committee
The National Security and
Foreign Affairs Committee
met at 3:00 p.m. in Salon E with
Chairman Gary Steinhardt
calling the meeting to order
in proper form. Roll call
revealed fourteen members
present and two absent.
Districts five and seven were
not represented. No guests
were in attendance.
Fall
conference minutes were
approved as read. A tour of
Muscatatuck Urban Training
Center was discussed. A
motion was made by Mike
Patrick and seconded by
Mike Wooden to pursue
putting together a tour of
Muscatatuck. The motion
passed unanimously. A slide
presentation dealing with
Religious Persecution in
the Middle East was shown
and narrated by Chairman
Steinhardt. No resolutions
were presented, and no
department
funds
were
requested. The committee
will meet at spring conference
to discuss Military Person of
the Year awards. The meeting
adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
POW/MIA Committee
The POW/MIA Committee
met at 9:00 a.m. in Salon C
with Chairman Larry Macy
calling the meeting to order
in proper form. Roll call
revealed twelve members
present and three absent.
Districts seven and eleven
were not represented. Two
guests were in attendance.
Fall conference minutes were
read and approved. Chairman
Macy shared a report from
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
the
Defense
POW/MIA
Accounting Agency detailing
those MIA accounted for in
2015. Seventy remains were
identified. No motions were
made and no department
funds were requested. No
resolutions were presented.
The committee will meet at
spring conference. With no
further business at this time,
the meeting adjourned at 9:45
a.m.
SAL Department Advisory
Committee
The SAL Department
Advisory Committee met at
3:00 p.m. in Veterans Hall
Three with Vice Chairman
Ron Kizer bringing the
meeting to order in proper
form.
Roll call revealed
eight members present and
six absent.
Districts five,
seven, eight, and ten were not
represented. Six guests were
in attendance. Fall conference
minutes were read and
approved. No resolutions were
presented and no department
funds were requested. The
committee will meet for onehalf hour at spring conference.
The meeting adjourned at 3:12
p.m.
The Bowling Committee did
not meet.
There being no further
business to come before the
commission, the meeting was
adjourned in proper fashion at
5:00 p.m.
Twitter @IndyLegion
Mid-Winter commission reports
age of 18 is being composed.
Marty Dzieglowicz will work
on getting a certificate with
the Department Commander’s
signature to present at the spring
conference to Julian Arrevalo,
who is being sponsored by
Post 508. Chris Brenneman
is looking into a patch. Russ
Chorpenning will be looking
into a pin design. Judging for
Eagle Scout of the year will be
on March 12, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.
at the Crossroads of America
Council. The Eagle Scout of the
Year must be sponsored by a post
or be related to a legion family.
The committee will meet at the
spring conference for one hour.
The Children and Youth
Commission met on January 16,
2016 at 4:30 p.m. at the Marriott
East Hotel in Salon B. Rodney
Strong opened the meeting in
proper form. Roll call disclosed
thirteen members were present
and one was absent.
The
minutes of the fall conference
were approved.
Boy’s
State
Enrollment
The following committee reports Committee
were received:
Scott Weyler, second district
Chairman made a motion to
Americanism & Government change to an online enrollment
Committee
from the current paper
There were ties on the district enrollment process.
Lori
tests. The district chairmen Bowman seconded the motion.
received essays for the tie The motion carried. Brandon
breakers. The winners will be Kruse was present to give a
presented at spring conference. live presentation on the new
The committee will not meet at online application process that
the spring conference.
we will do for 2015 and future
registrations. Many questions
Boy Scouts Committee
were fielded by Brandon, Scott,
Rees Morgan was tasked with and Bob Oeth. Orientation
working on a resolution for unit meetings were planned. The
chaplains to earn a religious committee will meet at the
award. A resolution to recognize spring conference for at least 1.5
handicapped scouts over the hours.
Convention Contest Committee
Chairman Dan Lee opened
the meeting in proper form.
Discussion ensued about the
progress of condensing score
sheets. They should be ready
at the spring conference.
Chairman Lee will go to
Post 495 to inspect for the
competition to be held there.
Firefighter/Law & Order/
EMS Awards Committee
Chairman Nick Nicholoff
opened the meeting in proper
form.
Discussion
ensued
concerning
combining
luncheon for firefighter/law
& Order/EMS, and Military
Person of the year as a costsaving suggestion. Books must
be ready one week before the
The minutes of the previous close of books and submitted
conference were approved. All to Department. Will discuss
members discussed minutes of more at the next conference.
their respective committees.
The fall conference minutes Legion Riders Committee
were voted on and approved by Chairman Ron Byrley opened
the meeting in proper form.
commission members.
The Committee requested to
The following committee have the meeting moved to
1:00 p.m. at the fall conference
reports were delivered:
for the chapter meeting. The
second district raised $4480.
Community
for Indiana Veterans Home.
Involvement Committee
Chairman
Eric
Baggett Post 79 dropped off care
opened meeting in proper items for the Indiana Veterans
The Brownsburg
form.
Chairman reported Home.
that the $5,000 loaned to the post is working on state rally.
Department will be returned The 7th district to start new
to the community involvement officer training and donated
account. All districts reported $500 to Operation Comfort
being involved with their Warriors. The 10th district
visits nursing homes with
respective communities.
The
Internal
Affairs
Commission met on January
16, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. at the
Marriott East Hotel in Salon C.
Martin Dzieglowicz opened
the meeting in proper form.
Roll call disclosed thirteen
members were present and one
was absent. Two visitors were
in attendance.
The Rehabilitation Commission
met on January 16, 2016 at 4:30
p.m. at the Marriott East Hotel
in Salon D. Mark Gullion
opened the meeting in proper
form. A motion was made and
seconded to accept the minutes
from the last meeting. The
following committee reports
were delivered:
Employment Committee
The Employment Committee
met in Veterans Hall 1 at
11:00 a.m. with the meeting
being called to order in proper
form by Frankie Billingsley,
Chairman. All districts were
represented.
Guest speaker
Ms. Deanna Puch, Director
of Veterans Employment and
Education at Indiana Veterans
Affairs (IDVA) spoke regarding
the
community
Outreach
activities
and
upcoming
events throughout the state.
Nominations of Indiana State
Employer
Winners
were
announced and the award
packages have been sent
to National for review and
selection. The Chairman spoke
regarding how we can assist our
veterans by viewing online job
fairs and postings, posting to
websites and Facebook pages,
ensuring copies of ads are
placed on the American Legion
Post bulletin boards and asking
posts to email information
to their members. The 5th
District will be having several
Stand Downs in 2016. The
Employment Committee will
meet at the spring conference.
Homeless Veteran’s Committee
Homeless Veteran’s Committee
met in Salon D at 12:00 p.m. on
January 16, 2016. The meeting
was called to order in proper
form by Chairman Harold
E. Robbie Robinson.
All
members were present and all
districts were represented with
the exception of the 3rd District
Chairman. There was a motion
made and seconded to accept
the minutes from the previous
conference. Christylee Vickers
of Post 438 addressed the
Committee.
She spoke to
homeless veterans
males’
and females’ needs in the
Indianapolis Area and what is
available to said veterans. Don
Sales reported on a new facility
being opened in the Gary,
Indiana area and will keep the
committee informed. There
was a Stand Down held at the
to suspend business for purposes
of grading tests. Winners were
announced. The committee will
meet at the spring conference for
one hour.
through all youth programs
must have annual background
checks. Butch Miller will notify
individuals when the background
check has cleared.
Girl Scout Committee
Gail Galich explained where
to target membership, where to
find them (Ladies’ auxiliary,
Girls’ State).
Each district
spoke about what is going on in
their respective districts. Not
having the religious award is
still the most trouble in getting
a qualified girl. We need to
Children’s Education and encourage younger girls to get
them informed and ready. The
Welfare Committee
All districts were represented. committee will meet at the spring
A motion was made and carried conference for .5 hour.
to accept the minutes of the
Shooting
Sports
previous meeting. A motion was Junior
made and approved to accept the Committee
finance report. A motion was A motion was made and passed
made and carried to approve to hold a coach certification class
payment of thirteen grants in April. Ida Jewell will work
totaling $4,813.39. A motion with Butch Miller to organize
was made and carried to pay this and keep the membership
for school supplies for Denzel posted through the website.
Department
shooting
Combs for $1,232.92. The 4th The
and 5th Districts have a stockpile tournament will be on March
of some household goods that 12, 2016 at Seymour. Insurance
can be available to someone who will be necessary. Guests Jerry
has a major loss, fire, etc. The Wehner and Bill Jordan from the
committee will meet for one hour Indiana State Rifle and Pistol
Association were looking for
at the spring conference.
interest in a pistol match to be
Flag
Education/Etiquette hosted by the ISRPA. All legion
volunteers who have one on
Committee
A motion was made and passed one contact with young people
Oratorical School Awards
Committee
Discussion ensued on upcoming
district and zone contests along
with paperwork.
Discussed
background checks. A motion
was made and passed to accept
minutes from the previous
meeting. District contest dates
were set, and zone contest dates
were set. The Department contest
will be March 6, 2016 at 1:00
p.m. at National Headquarters.
The committee will meet at the
spring conference.
up to 15 chapters. The 11th
District donated $16,000 to
Operation Comfort Warriors.
National Legacy Ride is being
planned. Suggested resolution
to be written and money from
the legacy ride will be used for
children of injured warriors.
The committee will meet at the
spring conference for one hour.
conference.
Children & Youth Committee
Discussion ensued regarding
taking collections for Riley
Children’s Hospital at posts.
Chairman Sharber gave out the
Riley Representatives’ contact
information. The 6th District
donated $55 to Riley. Educator
of the year packets were handed
out. Direction on how to fill
out information was given by
Ron Kizer. All packets are due
at Department by June 1, 2016.
The committee will meet at the
spring conference.
All
district
commanders
reported on activities to garner
membership as well as the vice
commanders. The committee
will meet at the spring
conference.
New Post Development/
Revitalization Committee
Chairman Herb Hoffman
opened the meeting in proper
form. Ralph Perez reported
that Post 270 was going to
disband and transfer members
out and will start a new
post.
The second district
is to close 506. Post 558 is
now financially fit. Post 364
closed and wants to reopen
under a new charter. Post 47
is revitalized. Avon Post 145
is in a new building. A new
post will start at Putnamville
Prison. Members from 777
should be utilized to revitalize
posts. Post 438, women’s post
is under new leadership. Post
374 closed and transferred
members. Post 34 closed their
old post and opened a new one.
Legislative Committee
Chairman Steve Short opened
the meeting in proper form.
Will Henry presented bills
that were introduced at state
legislature. Problems at the
BMV to be addressed. Will
is working with the Big Four
Committee (comprised of
American Legion, VFW, DAV,
& AMVETS). The Big Four is
to meet with the Governor on
February 3, 2016. Flyers were
passed out to support legion
priorities for the Washington,
D.C. trip. A motion was made
and passed to support HB1057.
A motion was made and passed
to support resolution 2016M15,
outlining the Department’s
Legislative priorities.
The Post Education Committee
committee will meet at the Chairman Ron Byrley opened
spring conference.
meeting in proper form. Kim
Mezger, Assistant Director for
Membership Committee
the Youth Welfare at National
Chairman Bob Oeth opened Headquarters along with Butch
the meeting in proper form. Miller gave an outstanding
Commander Larry Lowry presentation
concerning
thanked the membership and the TFA program. District
encouraged them to keep up commander guide books
the good work. Chairman Bob were passed out to respective
Oeth passed out maps of the districts. The committee will
veteran population in Indiana. meet for one hour at the spring
Jesse Brown facility. A motion
was made by James Hamilton,
seconded by Don Sales to
fund the following: $1,000 to
Hope House, $500 to Genesis
YWCA in Richmond, Indiana,
and $1,000 to Disk Quattrin
homeless veteran shelter. The
committee will meet at the
spring conference.
Indiana Veteran’s Home
Committee
The Veterans Home Committee
met in Salon C at 1:00 p.m.
with Chairman Dennis Pettit
calling the meeting to order in
proper form. All members were
present and all districts were
represented.
Twelve guests
were present. A motion was
made and seconded to accept
the minutes of the last meeting.
Paul Steward made a motion,
which was seconded that 1 slit
lamp, six big boy beds, and a
wheel chair bike be purchased
at a cost of $31,743.02. Paul
Steward also requested that in
the future the IVH provide a
more detailed wish list regarding
their needs, justifying why
the VA does not purchase the
items needed. Tamara Smith
and Tom Smith of the IVH
gave updates. Donations were
received for the IVH as follows:
$1,500 from the Osceola ALR
Post, and $150 from the 10th
district for residents’ parties.
The committee will meet at the
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
Junior ROTC
A motion was made and passed
to accept the minutes from the
previous meeting.
Direction
was given to all to find out what
criteria is needed to develop
for district winners to find
department winner so that a
request from the Department
can be made for funds. They
would like to have a JROTC
competition at state convention if
possible.
There being no further business
to come before the commission,
the meeting was adjourned in
proper fashion.
Public Relations Committee
Chairman Jerry Ward opened
the meeting in proper form.
Pat O’Donnell said that
Veterans Views radio program
is broadcast to armed forces
network in the morning.
Valparaiso Radio broadcasts in
FM. Districts need web page
to spread news about American
Legion. It was discussed to
have a D.J. broadcast from
the national convention. Will
Henry announced that the
Big Four (American Legion,
VFW, AMVETS, & DAV)
are working together on
a legislative agenda.
The
committee will meet at the
spring conference for .5 hour.
Religious
Emphasis Committee
Norris Keirn opened the
meeting in proper form.
He discussed information
concerning a law suit that
involves “In God We Trust” on
legal tender. Chairman Keirn
spoke about Four Chaplains
Sunday at length. It should be
the first Sunday in February.
Call at least one “Vet” and
reach out to prevent suicides.
The Committee will meet at
the spring conference for one
hour.
There being no further
business to come before the
commission, the meeting was
adjourned in proper fashion.
spring conference.
Post 438 of the 11th District to
by comfort items for female
General Hospital Committee patients at the Roudebush VA
The
General
Hospital Hospital. The committee will
Committee met in Salon D at meet at the spring conference.
2:00 p.m. on January 16, 2016.
Chairman Rex Ikemire called Nursing Home Committee
the meeting to order in proper The Nursing Home Committee
form. Twenty-six members met in Salon 6 at 9:00 a.m. on
were present, 19 members January 16, 2016. The meeting
were absent, and there was 1 was opened in proper form by
guest. The 7th district was the Chairman. There were
not represented. John Hickey, eight members of the committee
Director of Rehabilitation present, along with five
passed out the current hospital guests. Not present were the
account totals that showed commander’s representative,
$15,048.03 remaining that the 8th, and the 10th districts. A
can be spent this fiscal year. motion was made and seconded
He also passed out Rehab to accept the minutes of the fall
Facility Report forms, asking conference. The committee will
all members to report events, meet at the spring conference.
issues, or problems taking
place at the VA facilities that Veterans
Assistance
they serve. The 1st District Committee
Chairman, Gail Galich reported The
Veterans
Assistance
on the Food Pantry at the Jesse Committee
presented
Brown VA Hospital and of their Resolution
2016M10,
Wall for Food event that is held Temporary Assistance for
in May. Money that is left over Needy Veteran’s Program.
is used for other comfort items. The resolution was approved
Hines Hospital is trying to start and delivered to the Resolution
a food pantry in the near future. Screening Committee. The
The 5th District Chairman, committee will meet at the
Paul Layman, advised that the spring conference.
Marion VA Hospital is looking
for funds to purchase three- There being no further business
-wheeled cycles for patients that to come before the commission,
do not have use of their legs. the meeting was adjourned in
The 10th District Chairman, proper fashion.
Ed Healy, advised that the
10th District donated $300 to
Facebook.com/IndianaLegion
7
Vietnam Veteran & Vietnamese wife stand the test of time
Story by john crosby
They came from opposite
sides of the world, from
opposing, warring nations.
Both grew up in large families
but the similarities stop there.
Vietnam Veteran and Hoosier
Legionnaire Mike Armstrong
grew up in the small town of
Rushville, Ind. His wife, Nga
Thi Le, or Mrs. Armstrong,
grew up in war torn South
Vietnam.
Regardless, they found a
common bond and love together
in one of the most dangerous
places on earth at that time.
They overcame adversity from
peers, family and friends on
both sides of the world and after
47 years they’re still standing
strong together today.
Early life in Vietnam
Nga Thi was born in 1946,
the sixth child of a poor, third
generation farming family.
They tended a 3-acre coconut
farm in the small farming
village of Kiem Hoa. She was
adopted out in infancy to a
nearby couple who couldn’t
conceive children.
They were constantly
forced to move and adapt
to the encroaching fighting
between the North and South
Vietnamese. In 1948, her
adopted father Lam Kien
Toung, was again forced to
move the family and abandon
the coffee plantation he
managed. He took a job as
plant manager of a toothpaste
company in Cholon, a suburb
of Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh
City.
Her adopted parents had a
tumultuous and at times violent
relationship. They divorced
when she was six years old. Nga
stayed with her dad. Things
were good with her father. She
remembers he would come
home for lunch and eat with her
every day. He left her money for
candy. She was well fed and was
encouraged to read and pursue
an education. Sometimes, when
she was afraid of the dark, her
father would allow her to sleep
next to him at night.
However, at 10 years old,
things began to rapidly change
when her adopted father took a
new wife, stepmother Lam Ha
Dam. Nga was not allowed to
go to school anymore and took
on the role of a maid in the
home.
She was treated poorly by
Lam. Time she had previously
spent bonding with her father
or studying was spent cooking,
cleaning the home, and
emptying the chamber pots.
She was called names, whipped
regularly and made to submit to
her new stepmother’s will.
Soon came a new brother
and three sisters. Nga took the
role of nanny. She was made
to sleep on the floor near her
stepmother’s bed. It was her
duty to comfort the crying
babies at night, to change them
and clean them.
Late one evening, at 14
years old, Nga was trying to
get some sleep on the floor
when she overheard her father
and stepmother arguing. Her
father said it’s not fair for to
deny her an education but her
stepmother refused to bend.
Nga understood she would
never be free there, and ran
away.
She’d heard her adopted
mother had taken a new
husband, a writer for the Tien
Doi Mien Nam Newspaper
in Saigon. Nga went to the
newspaper and met with him.
They took her in. She was
grateful, and life was somewhat
better. She was still treated as
the maid, but was allowed to
go to school nights as long as
the household was kept during
the day. However, it didn’t take
long for the recurring abuse
she’d witnessed so many times
before to creep back into her
life.
At 18, she left and again
sought refuge with family. She
stayed with her stepfather’s
uncle, an elementary school
teacher. She helped teach the
first grade and continued her
own education learning English
in the evenings.
Eventually she found a job
at the U.S. Army Post in Bien
Hoa, just northeast of Saigon,
as a bartender in the noncommissioned officers club.
From there she held numerous
positions, even filing security
paperwork for indigenous
workers on the base.
Being bilingual, she was
offered a position as an
interpreter with the U.S. Army’s
173rd Airborne Brigade. She
would go on outreach missions
with U.S. Army armored units
Mike Armstrong served in Mike and Nga Armstrong were married on July 31, 1968 in Saigon.
Vietnam as a finance sergeant in Troops from Mike’s unit joined the reception in uniform and shared
the 173rd Airborne Brigade from dinner with Nga’s extended family.
1968 through 1970.
into villages, churches and
orphanage to offer food, aid
and medicine to the South
Vietnamese.
The patrols were humanitarian
aid missions, but the danger
was always there. Nga would
listen to the radio every
morning, hearing news about
the rising death tolls from Viet
Cong attacks. Being South
Vietnamese and working for
the U.S. Army was a death
sentence if caught by the VC.
Love at first sight
In 1968 she decided to transfer
to a finance unit where she
worked exclusively on the base.
There she met Mike, her future
husband.
“The first time I saw her walk
into my office, I said that is the
girl I’m going to marry,” Mike
said matter-of-factly. “She was
just absolutely beautiful.”
“I walked in and he’s standing
right there,” said Nga. “He
told me he’d like to take me
out to eat. I told him I have to
ask my parents.” Regardless
of the abuse in her family
history, asking your parents’
permission was strict tradition,
and she adhered to it. “After
watching what my parents went
through, I wasn’t going to make
the same mistake,” said Nga. “I
was going to choose a husband
wisely.”
Nga decided she would
allow it, but only if they were
accompanied by co-workers.
“She was playing hard to get,”
Mike said as Nga laughed.
Nga warmed up to Mike and
invited him to her compound
Mike and Nga
Armstrong were
married on July 31,
1968 in Saigon.
Troops from
Mike’s unit joined
the reception
in uniform and
shared dinner with
Nga’s extended
family.
Mike spent a total of 28 months
boots-on-ground in Vietnam to
bring Nga home as his lawful wife.
Mike and Nga Armstrong have been happily married 47 years in 2015
Mike and Nga Armstrong met at the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s Finance
Office near Saigon in 1968. He proposed two months later and, 47 Nga Armstrong, then Nga Thi Le,
works at her desk filing security
years later, the rest is history...
paperwork for indigenous workers
at the U.S. Army Post in Bien Hoa,
northeast of Saigon.
8
for a home cooked meal.
Downstairs, the maid cooked
dinner for Nga and Mike. She
brought up a simple supper of
meat and rice.
“I made the mistake of asking
what kind of meat it was,” said
Mike.
“He seemed to be enjoying
it,” recalled Nga. “Until I told
him it was water buffalo. I
think he was sick for a couple
of days after that.” Mike added
that he’s warmed up to Nga’s
cooking over the past 47 years
and truly enjoys it now.
After roughly two months of
dating, Mike’s unit had orders
to move out to An Khe in the
Central Highlands of Vietnam.
That was when Mike asked
Nga to marry him.
“I just knew,” said Mike. “She
was a good kid and I just knew
she was the one. Sometimes
you just know.”
Nga said yes, but on the
condition that Mike meet her
adopted father. This was the
tradition.
“I’d forgiven my parents
for what they’ve done to me,”
Nga said. “My friends never
understood why. But I forgave
them. What is past is past. There
is no reason to stay angry, I just
say, ‘let it go’. Sometimes I still
dream about the whippings
from my step mother, but you
just let it go.”
And so they left the base
together to meet her father,
buying him a bottle of wine
and a pack of cigarettes as
gifts along the way. Mike was
nervous but asked Nga not to
tell.
Nga translated to her father
that Mike was there to ask him
to give her away. “I explained
to him that it’s time for me to
move on,” said Nga. “I went
through a lot when I was
young. It was time I chose my
own path.”
Her father was concerned
that Nga would suffer due to
cultural differences between
the U.S. and Vietnam and Mike
gave his word to honor her and
protect her.
Happily married 47 years
Mike was committed to
bringing Nga home with him
the right way. He submitted the
proper documentation through
his unit’s chain-of-command.
In all, he waited more than 16
months for approval.
They were married July 31,
1968 in Saigon. Troops from
Mike’s unit joined the reception
in uniform and shared dinner
with Nga’s extended family.
Mike took a week of leave
and flew Nga home in October
1968. Mike had three more
months on his orders. With his
new bride safe in Indiana, he
returned to Vietnam to finish
his tour of duty.
Back home, his family received
Nga warmly.
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
“My mom was always kind
of a wingnut, she took Nga in
right away,” said Mike. “Mom
and dad, my brothers and
sisters too... They just loved her
right off the bat.”
Nga wanted to go to work
right away. Mike’s mother
brought her to Indianapolis to
shop for clothing and find a
job. Her strong work ethic and
ability to stand up to adversity
kept her steadily employed
throughout her life in America.
She found a job at Merico
Bakery in Indianapolis for 15
years with the Bakery Workers
Local 372, and went on to work
for Ingersoll Rand for another
16 years. She sent money home
to her adopted mother every
weekend and wrote to her
adopted father.
But being the working class
Vietnamese wife of a G.I.
living in the U.S. during the
Vietnam War was not without
challenges.
“They told me to go back to
my country,” said Nga. “They
told me I was taking their man,
taking their jobs. I told them,
‘My man came to my country
and fought through red tape just
to bring me back here. I work, I
pay taxes just like you.’”
“She faced some prejudices
when she first moved here,”
said Mike. “It’s to be expected.
I’m sure our World War II
fathers faced the same things
when they brought home
German brides.”
Despite the adversity, Mike
and Nga worked tirelessly
for years with the American
and Canadian governments to
bring her family home to the
U.S. from war-torn Vietnam.
They were able to successfully
pull out much of her family
including her adopted father,
stepmother and stepsiblings
after the fall of Saigon, South
Vietnam and the communism
that followed.
Nga’s forgiving spirit would
not allow her abusive family
history to sway her decision to
bring them to her new home
in the states, away from the
decades-long conflicts that
plagued Vietnam.
“I don’t let my history affect
the happiness in my life,” Nga
said. “I love my family. They
did the best they could for me.
Now we can be together again
on the other side.”
Nga received her naturalization
papers in 1974. Mike worked
as a construction project
manager
with
Shamrock
Builders in Indianapolis for 28
years. They have a son and a
daughter, one grandson, three
granddaughters, and one stepgranddaughter. They’re now
retired in Indianapolis and
have been happily married for
47 years. Mike is a member
of Historic Fort Benjamin
Harrison American Legion
Post 510.
Twitter @IndyLegion
WWII veterans last survivors of 70-year old New Alsace charter
Story & Photos
by john
crosby
In Post WWII 1945,
The
Greatest
Generation
was returning home from
fronts around the globe. No
community was unaffected
by the war. Even the small,
Southern Indiana town of New
Alsace had dozens of service
members leave to support the
war effort.
Some saw heavy action.
Others held support specialties
to keep our fighting men on
the offensive. Though their
experiences varied, they all
shared the common bond, the
same bond that their fathers
and grandfathers shared after
WWI. They’d fought the
greatest and bloodiest war in
world history and now it was
time to pick up their lives and
carry on.
This is the story of four such
men, John Klump, Raymond
Hemke, and brothers Harry
and Raymond Schaefer. These
four men shared very different
experiences during their tours
of duty. They formed a lifelong brotherhood. They carried
on in their tradition of service.
These four men are legacy,
the last living original charter
members that founded The
American
Legion
North
Dearborn Post #452 in New
Alsace, Ind. They are each in
their 70th year of uninterrupted
Legion membership.
Combined, they share more
than 280 years of Hoosier
Legionnaire experience. They
are all still active in their Post.
John Klump
U.S. Army 1944-1946
Infantryman
John Klump was born in his
father’s tavern in New Alsace,
Ind. The bar, fittingly named
Klump’s, had been opened by
his father in 1914. His father
was also a farmer planting corn
and beans on his 200-acres
plantation.
Klump was born the youngest
of five brothers and four
sisters. Growing up, he helped
his father and siblings work the
land and do chores around the
farm. He figured out quickly
that he’d have to blaze his own
path in life as his father’s land
would go to his elder brothers.
He volunteered for the draft
and asked that his number be
called as soon as possible. He
was drafted into the U.S. Army
two weeks after graduating
high school in 1944. He was
stationed in newly opened
Camp Hood, Texas. He trained
as an infantryman in the 24th
Infantry Division and deployed
to the Philippines where he
fought on every major island
of the campaign.
Klump soon found himself
in the heat of action. His unit
spearheaded the invasion of
Leyte for the 38th Infantry
Division, headquartered in
Indianapolis. He charged the
beaches on Mindoro and again
on Luzon from amphibious
landing craft, wading through
chest deep water.
He fought in the bloody week
long battle of Zig Zag Pass. His
unit endured the jungle terrain
laced with trip wire booby
traps and ambushes around
every corner. More than 2,400
of roughly 2,800 Japanese
dug-in at Zig Zag were killed.
John Klump shows his U.S. Army photo from 72 years ago. Klump fought on every
major island in the Philippines as an infantryman with the 24th Infantry Division. He was
wounded in combat and still carries shrapnel in his leg to this day. Klump is one of four
surviving original charter members of Post 452 in New Alsace, Ind.
The American Legion, North Dearborn Post 452
charter membership roll. Raymond Hemke, John
Klump, and Harry and Raymond Schaefer are the
last surviving members of the original charter.
Only 25 surrendered and were
taken prisoner, a testament
to the enemy’s ferocity and
determination and the hell our
troops faced fighting across the
Pacific Theatre.
Attrition was staggering.
Klump
earned
technical
sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class today,
with just under two years of
service in the Army.
His unit liberated Allied
POWs from the Bataan
Death March from a camp
in Mindanao. They were
defending the airfield there
when his company was
assaulted by 200 frenzied,
fanatical Japanese on a Banzai
charge. They fought through
the night. At one point, a
Japanese
172mm
mortar
landed 10 meters from his
position.
“It’s either your time or it
isn’t,” he said, matter-of-factly.
“Somebody up there must have
thought it wasn’t my time.”
Klump fought back the
enemy from close quarters. He
witnessed one Japanese soldier
fall with his arm draped across
the G.I. machine gun that
killed him.
“It’s really unbelievable when
you look back on it,” Klump
said from his living room easy
chair with that look in his
eye familiar to other combat
veterans. “There are things you
can’t even describe. I came out
of there looking like a skeleton,
you could count every bone on
my body. Being a 19-year-old
kid fighting through the jungle
while carrying 80 lbs. of gear
will wear on you.”
The fighting dragged on day
after day. The odds caught up
with him fighting on a hill one
day in Mindinoa. You could
say he got lucky, or that his
luck ran out, depending on how
you look at it. He was wounded
when the BAR gunner directly
in front of him took a Japanese
grenade. Klump caught the
man in his arms as he fell.
With the BAR gunner dead,
Klump was caught alone with
his lead scout, the rest of his
platoon to the rear. They took
cover in adjacent ditches on
either side of the road.
“You could see the machine
gun fire hitting the road
Raymond Hemke points to his photobook of the old Radio Teletype
system the U.S. War Department used to communicate orders during
WWII. This equipment was top secret and state-of-the-art, allowing
the Pentagon to communicate messages with units around the globe
faster than ever before the invention of satellites. Hemke is one of four
surviving charter members of Post 452 in New Alsace, Ind., which was
founded by WWII veterans 70 years ago in 1946.
between
the
ditches,” said
Klump. “The
scout yelled to
me to ‘run for
12 seconds and fall into the
next ditch for cover.’ We ran
ditch to ditch.”
They bounded back to
their platoon under Japanese
machine gun and mortar fire.
“When we got back down I
noticed a younger guy holding
his arm where it had been
completely shot off,” said
Klump. “I grabbed him and
brought him to the medics.”
In all the adrenaline of the
fight, Klump didn’t realize he
was hit yet.
He spent the evening in a
foxhole. He slept solid through
the night, exhausted after
several days of heavy fighting.
He awoke to find his leg had
swollen so bad he couldn’t
walk. It was then he realized
he’d taken shrapnel from the
enemy grenade that took the
BAR gunner’s life.
Klump was evacuated to
Davao. He spent the next
several weeks off the line
recovering from his wounds
at an old school house turned
hospital. He received the
Bronze Star and Purple Heart
for his actions but his fight
wasn’t over. He returned to the
front line with shrapnel still
embedded in his leg.
The heaviest of the fighting
was over. The 24th Infantry
Division were mopping up the
remainder of Japanese forces.
His platoon was defending
a saw mill in Mindanao one
morning, the southern major
island of the Philippines. “We
got news that we dropped the
two big bombs on Japan,”
said Klump. “The fighting had
basically stopped overnight.
You could really tell a
difference.”
In 1946, after the surrender
of the Japanese, Klump and
the 24th Infantry Division
moved out directly for Japan.
“We hit the beach like we were
invading,” he said. “There was
zero resistance. The fighting
was finished. Everybody just
wanted to go home.”
So, he was stuck. Guard duty
here, guard duty there, the
tavern in the evenings. Being
a born and raised Hoosier he
started a basketball team to
pass the time.
“We played against the
officers once, five on five,” he
said, smiling. “We didn’t take
it easy on ‘em either.” He still
recalls the exact score of that
game; 82 enlisted, 28 officers.
He earned enough points to
rotate home after four months
in Japan. In all he spent he
spent a week shy of two years
in the Army retaining the rank
of technical sergeant. He wears
shrapnel in his leg to this day,
a reminder of the struggle he
and hundreds of thousands of
allied forces endured in the
Philippines.
Klump picked up and carried
on with his life after returning
home from war. He and 24
other fellow veterans chartered
The American Legion, New
Alsace Post 452. He worked
for his brothers on the family
farm and in his family tavern,
the same tavern he was born in.
One evening while tending
bar he met his wife of 67
years. He and his wife have
8 grandkids and 3 great
grandkids. He built a career for
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
himself working 35 years as a
die maker at the Fisher Body
plant, now General Motors,
in Hamilton, Ohio. He is the
last surviving sibling of his 8
brothers and sisters.
Klump’s Bar stayed in the
family until 1992. Under
new management, the bar is
still serving loyal customers
today under the original name
Klump’s and is somewhat of
a landmark in the community
there.
Raymond Hemke
U.S. Army 1942-1945
Radio Mechanic
high on the hog!”
Hemke was chosen to become
a radio mechanic on a cuttingedge
telecommunications
device. During WWII, the U.S.
War Department needed a way
to effectively communicate
with its commanders on the
other side of the globe.
A new version of Radio
Teletype (RTTY) was the
answer.
Essentially,
the
system allowed operators to
bounce radio frequencies off
of the atmosphere to send
signals around the curvature
of the earth. This top secret
system allowed Allied forces
to communicate messages
globally, faster than ever.
“There was no garbling, no
room for error,” said Hemke.
“One miscalculation could
throw the whole thing off. This
was before satellites.”
From Ashville, N.C., he
deployed to Bombay, India
by way of ocean liner. The
ship was packed to maximum
capacity with equipment and
men. Hemke bunked with
20 other men in the luxury
stateroom. Because their ship
was fast and could outrun
convoys, they made the trip
unescorted.
The trip took a little over
a month. Tragedy struck when
they finally berthed at Bombay.
The freighter S.S. Fort Stikine
carrying ammunition and 1,400
tons of explosives caught fire
and detonated. The explosion
sank 13 nearby ships and killed
an estimated 1,300 people.
“The people here in the
U.S. never heard about what
happened there in Bombay,”
said Hemke. “We were put on
body collection. The Bombay
civilians abandoned the town.
We cleaned up and moved
out.”
After their horrific experience
at the Bombay Docks, the men
Raymond Hemke was born
in Weisberg, Ind., in 1922. His
family worked for the railroad.
Weisberg saw heavy railway
traffic in the 1920s. He went
to school there and remembers
playing in the local creek with
the other children.
Hemke studied printing
mechanics before he was
drafted into the Army Air
Corps in 1942. He attended
basic training in sunny Miami,
Fla., and technical school
Sioux Falls, S.D.
“We went from Miami Beach
to -40 below outside,” Hemke
said, laughing.
Luckily for Hemke, his
schooling prior to the military
earned him a spot as a radio
mechanic. He was selected for
the specialty school and moved
out for advanced training at
Scott Field, Ill., just east of St.
Louis.
Again fate smiled on Hemke.
Three days before his unit
was due to deploy, a group
of officers came and selected
40 Soldiers of his unit to
participate in an important
mission.
“We were all sworn to keep
a top secret clearance,” he
remembered, smiling. “They
rushed us out of there and put
us up in the Lincoln Hotel in
Ashville, N.C. We were living Continued on page 10
Raymond Hemke, and brothers Raymond and Harry Schaefer stand
with their American Legion 70-year-membership plaques in front of the
memorial at New Alsace, Ind., North Dearborn Post 452. The three,
along with John Klump, are the last four surviving members of the
original charter, 70 years ago.
Facebook.com/IndianaLegion
9
he was discharged.
WWII Veterans
Back home, Schaefer went
Continued From Page 9 to work for the Fisher Body
got right to work building
their footprint and setting up
equipment. It wasn’t long
before they achieved success.
The Pentagon communicated
top secret messages with
Hemke’s unit by bouncing
radio waves toward the West
Coast, across the Pacific and
into India.
Their first transmissions were
orders for the 20th Bomber
Group.
“We relayed the messages over
the “hump” to bomb Japan,”
Hemke said, referring to the
Himalayas.
They relayed the orders to
Doolittle’s historic Tokyo
Raid, the first bombing run
on Japanese mainland and
retaliation for Pearl Harbor.
Hemke spent WWII there
in India, maintaining the top
secret radio equipment that
allowed Allied Forces to
communicate effectively and
win the war. During his down
time he would tour the country
and photograph the sights.
After V-J Day, operations
there began to wind down.
His unit was due home two
weeks before Christmas. They
returned home by ship by via
the Red Sea, through the Suez
Canal to the Mediterranean
Sea, and through Strait of
Gibraltar.
When they hit the open
Atlantic, “That’s when all hell
broke loose,” said Hemke.
Violent storm after storm
hit his ship. Several liberty
ships sank during the journey.
“Everyone was sick. Even the
captain was seasick.”
He spent Christmas 1945
seasick and weary at sea but he
made it home safely from his
journey. They docked in New
York City. He took a train to
Indianapolis and got off at
Stout Army Airfield and was
discharged. He hitch-hiked his
way home from there.
Hemke went back to school
and took up a trade in the
printing business. He retired
after 50 years working at the
Lawrenceburg Register and the
Harold Tribune in Batesville,
Ind.
“Our little post has grown
over the years,” he said. Hemke
has held every office at the post
through post commander. “We
need to remember to keep our
focus on the good of Legion,
and not on ourselves.”
Harry Schaefer
U.S. Army 1945-1945
Infantry
Harry Schaefer was born in
New Alsace, Ind., in 1924. He
was raised with his 10 brothers
and two sisters on a 170-acre
farm. Seven of his brothers
served in some capacity. He
was drafted in 1945 into the
U.S. Army. He reported to Fort
McClellan, Ala., and deployed
to the Philippines.
“When I got there the war was
over,” said Harry. “I reported
to a replacement depot. They
promoted me up from corporal
through technical sergeant.
That’s the way it was then.”
He was acting first sergeant
for the depot. His company
processed troops redeploying
home from the Philippines.
Harry’s experience was more
of a peaceful adventure. He
recalls playing baseball with
his Soldiers every day.
He recalls processing captains
and lieutenants through his
depot. Some didn’t appreciate
taking orders from a sergeant.
“We would just put ‘em on
KP duty,” Harry said, meaning
kitchen police detail. “I know it
was crazy but we would do it.
You could hear ‘em hollering
yet!”
He returned to the states by
way of Fort Ord, Calif., in
1946. He took a 4-day-long
train ride to Fort Benjamin
Harrison, Indianapolis where
Automobile Plant. He left after
a year and bought a grocery
store in Weisberg, Ind., with a
fellow Post 452 Legionnaire.
Schaefer met his wife at a
town dance. He married her
in1948 and was married 55
years before she passed away.
He has two daughters, seven
grandchildren and five great
children. He worked 32 years
at his grocery store and retired
in 1980.
Raymond Schaefer
U.S. Navy 1945-1946
Ordnance Specialist
Raymond Schaefer was
born in New Alsace, Ind., in
1925. He was raised with his
10 brothers and two sisters
on a 170-acre farm where his
family grew corn, beans, wheat
and hay. He was one of seven
brothers that served in some
capacity.
Raymond Schaefer was
drafted into the U.S. Navy in
1945 as an ordnance handler.
He was stationed at the Naval
Ammunition Depot in Hastings
Neb., a boomtown created by
the war effort.
The depot was strategically
placed there in the center of
the United States to deliver
ammunition to both the
Atlantic and Pacific theatres.
They produced 40% of the
rockets, bombs, mines and
torpedo warheads used by the
Navy and Marine Corps.
Though he never left the U.S.,
his job was not without its
dangers. Less than a year before
he was stationed there, more
than a million pounds of TNT
exploded there. The enormous
blast sent a shockwave that
could be felt more than 30
miles away.
He was discharged safely and
came home in 1946. He and
the original charter members
of Post 452 physically built
the post from the ground up,
cutting boards, framing the
building, tacking down the
roof, etc.
He was married and has three
girls and one boy. He drove a
semi-truck hauling liquid fuel
for several companies before
retiring.
10
Legion Family brightens Christmas for homeless veterans
Story by john crosby
One Hoosier Legion Family
teenager made Tristate area
news over the holiday season
when her spirit of giving
spread from her small town
to communities hundreds of
miles away.
It began as a plan last
November with a donation box
set out at a local Starbucks
to collect items for homeless
veterans. Fast forward a month
later. More than 5,000 items
were donated by Legionnaires
donning Santa hats and
delivering gifts from an M939
green-camouflaged,
5-ton
truck.
The holidays are tough on
the veterans at the Lucas Place
shelter in Evansville, Ind. Many
don't have families to celebrate
the season. The transitioning
homeless veterans there are
provided an opportunity for
a new beginning. They are
provided shelter and live with
the bare essentials, a cot, a
small two-coil stove, and few
belongings.
Honorary Auxiliary Junior
Vice
President
Deanna
Woodburn took this into
account while she was
searching for a community
outreach project to focus on for
the holidays.
“I knew I wanted to help
veterans in some way for the
holidays,” said Deanna. “I
wanted to find somewhere we
could make the biggest impact
possible.”
She contacted the case
manager for Lucas Place and
toured the facility. The shelter
is made up of individual
apartments about the size of a
hotel room. Management told
Deanna the veterans there
could use clothes, canned
goods and cleaning supplies. A
few open rooms needed beds
and a couple of rooms were
without small microwaves.
Deanna went to work. The
local NBC affiliate, WFIE
Channel 14 was contacted
and interviewed Deanna at
Newburgh, Ind., Kapperman
Post 44. Collection boxes were
placed at several businesses
in the local community on
Veterans Day. University of
Southern Indiana also placed
out a collection box and helped
spread the word through social
Honorary Auxiliary Junior Vice President Deanna Woodburn rides
shotgun in M939 green-camouflaged, 5-ton truck on loan from
Vanderburgh County Emergency Medical Services to hand deliver
more than 5,000 donated items to the veterans at the Lucas Place
shelter in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015.
media.
Word spread like wildfire.
Donations flooded in from
Southern Indiana, Illinois and
Kentucky during the threeand-a-half week collection
period. Deanna recorded and
separated clothing into sizes
for males and females and
boxed everything up. More
than 5,000 items were donated
including coats, clothing,
shoes, food, cleaning supplies,
Christmas cards, beds, bed
linens, and towels.
So many items were collected
that logistics and transportation
became somewhat of an
issue. But where there’s a will
there’s a way. Assistance came
from Vanderburgh County
Emergency Medical Services
in the form of a U.S. Army
5-ton truck.
And so, riding in their big
green-camouflaged
truck
packed full of donation items,
they arrived at Lucas Place
and hand-delivered more than
5,000 items to the veterans on
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015.
They were met with cheers
and tears by the staff and
residents there. They made an
assembly line to download all
of the boxes from the 5-ton
truck and carry them into the
shelter.
“One tristate teen delivered
a holiday miracle to local
veterans,” reported Channel 14
News. Reporters from Channel
14 followed her progress along
the way and produced several
TV stories.
Deanna expressed her
gratitude for her community’s
support.
“We were
stunned by the
outpouring
Today
Once back home in their
small Southern Indiana town,
the men knew they weren’t
alone. They found brotherhood
with their fellow veterans.
They found a way to continue
serving.
Post 452 started from humble
beginnings. They spent years
meeting in the basement of the
town school before purchasing
4-acres from John Klump’s
family farm.
Hemke, Klump, the Schaefer
brothers, and members of Post
452 literally and figuratively
laid the foundation of the brick
and mortar post that stands
today.
The new WWII era
Legionnaires hosted baseball
leagues, sponsored Boy Scouts
and held cookouts, supporting
their local community wherever
they could.
“We couldn’t be prouder
of these guys,” said Post
452 Commander Lawrence
Hoffbauer. Hoffbauer and his
post recently honored all four
members with 70-year-member
plaques during a surprise
ceremony held there during a
Euchre game. “They’re truly
like a legend around here.”
Though it’s been 70 years
since the end of WWII, some
things still remain the same
in the small, Southern Indiana
town of New Alsace. Farmers
continue to plant rows and
rows of fresh corn and beans
on the same land as they
have for hundreds of years.
The local pub, Klump’s still
serves its patrons as it has
since before WWI. And, The
American Legion, Post 452 is Deanna Woodburn stands with residents of Lucas
still a community staple there. Place, a shelter for veterans in Evansville, Ind.,
Indiana ranks first in TFA program
For the last two program years,
the Department of Indiana has
ranked first in the nation in the
amount of Temporary Financial
Assistance disbursements. In
2013 the Department was 2nd
in such disbursements, a true
testament to the service of
Hoosier Legionnaires.
“I am well aware that these
calls don’t always come at
Department of Indiana 100 Percent Posts
the most convenient times,”
said Department Programs
Coordinator, Past National
Commander Butch Miller.
“I’m proud to say however,
that on those occasions when
I needed to call or email you
and ask for your involvement
in determining the validity and
facts of a TFA related request,
I have never been greeted with
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. Deanna helped spearhead
an effort to donate more than 5,000 items to the
veterans there including coats, clothing, shoes,
food, cleaning supplies, Christmas cards, beds, bed
linens, and towels.
of
support
from
the
Auxiliary, the Legion and
the local communities here,”
said Deanna. “It’s really
unbelievable. It makes me
smile but also I feel for these
veterans at the same time.”
Volunteerism and selfless
service are traits that 15-yearold Deanna was raised on
by father Chad Woodburn,
American Legion 8th District
Chairman for the Community
Involvement and National
Security
Foreign
Affairs
Committees and his wife,
Michelle,
Auxiliary
8th
District President.
“She accomplished all of
this while juggling her studies
and choir. She’s your typical
teenager involved in many
activities,” said Chad. “I just
couldn’t be more proud of her. I
know if she keeps this up she’ll
have a really bright future.”
At Christmas, the Woodburns
and some friends cooked a
holiday dinner for the veterans
there at Lucas Place. Deanna
even made each veteran a
fleece with their respective
service branch on it.
“It’s at the heart of what
The American Legion Family
does, we make sure our fellow
veterans are taken care of,”
said Chad. “That includes our
homeless veterans. Especially
our homeless veterans.”
With the success they
experienced in collecting
items for homeless veterans in
2015, the Woodburns plan to
do another drive next holiday
season for another local shelter.
Deanna mentioned she is
searching for another charitable
cause for 2016 and may focus
on a children’s shelter.
The residents of Lucas Place shelter for veterans
in Evansville, Ind., enjoy a home cooked Christmas
feast prepared by the Woodburn family and friends
Friday, Dec. 25, 2015.
anything but a willingness
to assist. When it comes to
veterans helping veterans
and their families, obviously,
Hoosier Legionnaires not only
talk the talk, they consistently
walk the walk.”
So far this 2015-2016 program
year, the Department of Indiana
has already received in excess of
$50,000 in TFA disbursements. Learn more at www.indianalegion.org/temporary-financial-assistance
HOOSIER LEGIONNAIRE 1st Quarter 2016
Twitter @IndyLegion