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The Western Centurion
Jan 2015
Golden West Chapter MOAA
P.O. Box 2522, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-2522
Email the editor: tcassidycurtis@roadrunner.com
Good 2015 to you all! We've successfully navigated
2014 while short staffed, and have kept our checkbook out
of the red. If your name isn't on the paid up for 2015 list
deeper in this newsletter, please use the coupon and take
care of business so we can have an accurate membership
report for HQ MOAA by the 15th. If you intend to renew, but
can't send a check for a while, just email me with your intentions! If you already paid, and you're not on the list, it could
be system inertia - let me know by email of phone!
Your chapter staff could use a bit more help. Many of you received your 2014 chapter directories by US Postal Service in
the last part of December, if you hadn't already picked them
up at a dinner meeting. I have also discovered that our OctoCapt Fred Wagner, USAF (ret) Ch. President
ber newsletter hardcopy edition didn't get mailed at all. We
only mail 16 copies. Our hardcopy mailing team could use
some relief - Jeani Fraser has been handling it since the chapter was founded in 1976. Al
LoSchiavo was helping her, but he's now wheelchair-assisted. Jamie Cassidy-Curtis is
handling both Secretary and Treasurer duties, and your President checks the chapter
mailbox on Wednesdays when I'm in the neighborhood for Freedom Committee or Golden
West Pops activities.
Would someone younger, who lives in close to Golden West College, be willing to
pick up, address, and stamp and mail 16 newsletters a month? Of if you're younger, and
you have another friendly copy shop closer to where you live, would you check to see if
they'll accept emailed orders ?
Thank you all for your continued participation, attendance at our meetings, suggestions for programs, and attendance - and for those who are homebound, for your continuing support - and we'll try to be more consistent about getting the hardcopy newsletter to
you. (I've had difficulty getting my 7-day subscription to the OC Register delivered regularly,
so I guess the chapter isn't alone in this challenge!)
Hope to see you at the Eagle's Nest on the 15th - and back at the Costa Mesa country club on February 6th.
Coming Chapter meetings & events…..
President, Golden West Chapter,
MOAA, Membership
Dinner Coordinator
Capt. Fred Wagner, USAF (ret)
fhwagner4@hotmail.com
714 827 9236
15 Jan 2015 (Thursday)—The
Los Alamitos Chapter is hosting
Col Barry Wright from HQ MOAA,
no meeting for the GWC
Newsletter editor
LtCol Tim Cassidy-Curtis, USAFR (ret)
tcassidycurtis@roadrunner.net
714 549 8931
6 Feb—Veterans’ Legal Institute
Secretary and Treasurer
Maj Jamie Cassidy-Curtis, USAFR (ret)
jamiec275@gmail.com
714 549 8931
1 May—Dirk Dedoes, NASA
Director—Programs
John Noone
JBBNJR2117@sol.com
6 Mar—Dave Hayward, see p. 8
10 Apr—Maj Gen Taverney
5 Jun—TBD
All events tentative, & subject to change.
All dates Fridays except where noted.
Immediate Past President,
LtCol Albert LoSchiavo USAF (ret)
alwoodwork@aol.com
714-842-9433
2015 GW Board Meeting Calendar
Director—At Large
(President Emeritus)
COL Jess Carranza, USA (Ret.)
jcarranza@socal.rr.com
714 962-5348
12 January
Legislative Liaison
LtCol Tim Cassidy-Curtis USAFR (ret)
1 Jun
Board meetings, Monday, except where noted
2 February
2 March
6 April
27 April
The Board meeting will be held at 7PM at
Director—Auxiliary Liaison:
Jeani Fraser
candjfraser@earthlink.net
714 842-3192
LtCol LoSchiavo’s home—
6551 Segovia Circle, Huntington Beach.
Home phone is 714-842-9433
Newsletter paper printing & mailing—
Mrs. Jeani Fraser
Albert LoSchiavo, USAF (ret)
TWC
Jan 2015
If you need directions, just call! All are invited!.
Page 2
Renewing
Members!
John Broad
Marge Buck
Jess Carranza
Tim Cassidy-Curtis
Jamie Cassidy-Curtis
Dirk Dedoes
George Focht
Harry Fornwalt
Ron Groves
Sally Nockold
John Noone
Al Rasch
Tim Richards
Larry Schnitzer
Rod Trice
Fred Wagner
Anna Davis
Don Oldis
Kenneth Klein
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 3
Golden West Christmas
party.
We had a terrific time while
being sang to by entertainer
Dale Hanson.
Dale is pictured to the right.
Above is the membership of the
Chapter, who attended that
night.
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 4
For my commentary, I will provide information on our next meeting. Well, it’s
not exactly our meeting, it’s the Los
Alamitos Chapter meeting. Since we
had the MOAA president, and Los Alamitos came to our meeting, then we will be
Tim Cassidy-Curtis, Lt Col
“returning the favor” by cancelling our
meeting in favor of theirs. The guest speaker at the Los
Alamitos Chapter will be Col Barry Wright from HQ MOAA.
(ret)
The location is the Eagle's Nest, Navy Golf Course, Cypress. The directions from Harbor and the 405: I-405 North,
Exit Valley View and go north. Go past Lampson and Chapman, and be ready to turn left at Orangewood. The road ends
in the parking lot of the Navy Golf Course.
You may make reservations with advance payment.
Dinner choices - Chicken Picatta or Tilapia with White
Wine Butter Sauce, $25 per meal (please specify your preferred entrée, for each order). Checks payable to Los Alamitos Area Chapter, MOAA
Mail checks to arrive by 11 January, to Los Alamitos Area
Chapter, MOAA, P.O. Box 665, Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Questions? Please call Eino Yost at 562-430-6512. Voice
mail available; please leave a message.
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 5
Pearl Harbor survivor and former Costa Mayor Jack Hammett
died Saturday the thirteenth of December, 2014. He was 94.
The death was announced by Costa Mesa Mayor Steve
Mensinger, who praised Hammett for his dedication and vision.
“Jack was Mr. Costa Mesa,” Mensinger said on the city’s website. “His work ethic, leadership, humor and grace helped mold Costa Mesa over decades into the first-class city it is today. His passing
is a sad day for our city, but his legacy will be with us forever.”
“Pearl Harbor survivor and former Mayor Jack Hammett passed
this morning,” Mensinger posted on Hammett’s Facebook page Saturday afternoon. “Jack thank you for inspiring, serving and loving so
many. I heard you loud and clear sir, Via con Dios!”
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 6
Hammett served as mayor of Costa Mesa from 1972 to 1974,
according to the city’s website. His biography at costamesaca.gov
says he joined the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce in 1961. The
same year he joined the Costa Mesa Police Reserves and served
for more than 20 years. He was on the city’s planning commission
for seven years, was a city council member for eight years, and
served two terms as vice mayor before becoming mayor.
The city’s sports complex is named after him.
Hammett was dedicated to keeping veterans’ stories of service
alive for future generations.
He worked to that end as a member of the Freedom Committee
of Orange County. The group’s “living history” presentations brought
stories of war – in Hammett’s case, his experience at Pearl Harbor
– to classrooms throughout Orange County.
He was a pharmacist’s mate at the naval hospital in Pearl Harbor when Japan attacked. He worked four consecutive days helping
the wounded and tagging the dead. After 72 hours, he and a few
friends walked outside to see what the harbor looked like.
“We cried like babies,” he told the Register in a story about his
work with the Freedom Committee published in twenty thirteen.
His story can be found on fc-oc.org the committee’s website.
OC Register Staff writer Maryanne Dell contributed to this story.
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 7
David K. Hayward, WW II
Lieutenant
Heroic Aircraft
and its Heroic Pilot
The fight against Imperial Japan in the China-Burma-India campaign
required exceptionally rugged machines and even more rugged men
to operate them. The B-25 bomber was one of the rugged machines
that met the challenge, and Dave Hayward was one of the rugged
men who flew them. As a pilot in the 22nd bomb squadron, Dave
saw action throughout this demanding theater, flying 53 combat
missions, facing everything the Japanese, the sweltering jungle environment, and the towering Himalaya Mountains could throw at him.
In the process, he and his comrades devastated the Japanese lines of
supply, while keeping the vital Allied lines between India and China
open for business. His exploits earned him the Distinguished Flying
Cross and the undying gratitude of the civilians and ground troops
who were completely dependent on the operation of the Burma road and the air route
over the Hump. Now 92 years of age, Dave
Hayward is still active in his veterans organization, and is also willing to share some fascinating first-hand accounts from that extraordinary era in the history of warfare.
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 8
Jokes That Can Be Told In Church
Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil.
One said to the other, 'What do you think about all this Satan stuff? 'The other boy replied, 'Well,
you know how Santa Claus turned out. It's probably just your Dad..'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, 'Why is the bride
dressed in white? 'The mother replied, 'Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the
happiest day of her life. 'The child thought about this for a moment then said, 'So why is the
groom wearing black?'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for
Bible class. As she ran she prayed, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please
don't let me be late! 'While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting
her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running
again! As she ran she once again began to pray, 'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But
please don't shove me either!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, 'My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.'The second boy says,
'That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him
$100.'The third boy says, 'I got you both beat. My Dad writes a few words on a piece of paper, he
calls it a sermon, and it takes ten people to collect the money!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pall bearers. In
her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out
while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A police recruit was asked during the exam, 'What would you do if you had to arrest your own
mother? 'He answered, 'Call for backup.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them
to Jerusalem. A small child replied, 'They couldn't get a baby-sitter.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' she asked, 'Is there a
commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters? 'Without missing a beat,
one little boy answered, 'Thou shall not kill..'
~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little
Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's
ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said,
'Johnny, what is the matter?' Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to
have a wife.'
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 9
2015 Membership Form Golden West Chapter, Military Officer’s Association of America
Circle all that apply: Regular Member
Auxiliary Member
Honorary Member
Name
Birthday
.
Birthday
.
. Anniversary Month
.
Spouse
_
Street Address
Contributor
City and State Zip Code
Rank
.
Service
Phone Number
E Mail:
.
@
(Thank you)
Special Skills: computer, secretarial, speaking . journalism etc.
.
Average Hours /Week available to support MOAA activities
.
Able to phone potential members during recruiting drives ? Yes ’ No
Can provide rides to other members? Yes / No
Current, retired & former officers & warrant officers of the seven uniformed services, including Guard and Reserve, are
eligible for chapter membership. Widows, widowers, and former spouses holding DOD dependent ID cards are eligible
for auxiliary membership. Chapter dues are separate from National dues, and support Golden West chapter activities.
Dues Amount—Regular Member/Dual Military Couple—$25 Auxiliary Member—$12.50
Honorary Member / Contributor—no dues, contributions optional.
Make check payable to GWC MOAA, and mail with this page to:
Golden West Chapter Military Officers Association of America
P O Box 2522
Costa Mesa, CA 92628-2522
Please notify us of any change in postal or email address
Please remember that we are
meeting at the Los Alamitos Chapter, located at the Eagle’s Nest on
the Navy Golf course. Please read
my commentary for further details.
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 10
You can find out what is happening at our California
Chapter of MOAA (CALMOAA) by going to this website:
http://www.calmoaa.org
You can find: Areas and Chapters, Legislation, Current Events, etc.
To find out more about the activities and issues from
our National MOAA please go to:
http://www.moaa.org/
http://www.moaa.org/2014pay/
Take Action — Top issues facing service members:
http://www.moaa.org/Main_Menu/Take_Action/Top_Issues/Top_Issues.html
Birthdays
Anniversaries
John Broad
Karol DeDoes
George Focht
Al Thompson
Burnell Trout
Michelle Bayh-Wagner
James & Beverly Townsend
Remember: we get these birthdays and anniversaries from the Chapter Membership
Roster and the forms you fill out (see form on previous page). Without this information, we cannot honor you in this newsletter on your special days.
Taps — Jack Hammett, see PP 6-7
TWC
Jan 2015
Page 11
Warning: Pay your annual chapter dues or we will make you sing for your dinner, like this poor chap.
Seriously. Pay your annual chapter dues. This guy won’t be forgetting anytime, soon.
At least the accompanists, on the right, was nice enough to keep from rolling on the floor with laughter.
Golden West Chapter
Military Officers Association of America
P O Box 2522
Costa Mesa, CA 92628-2522
Jan 2015 Newsletter