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Providing a forum for veterans to share information, resources, and
events important to the veterans and their families of Arizona.
Inside this issue:
PFC Oscar Austin
Wounded Warriors vs
Medal of Honor Recipient
NFL Alumni of Arizona
Battle for Midway
Part 2
Iwo Jima Flag Raising
Sacaton
Arizona’s Great Escape
Countdown to Victory
Winter Edition 2015
First Edition Sixth Issue
Page 2
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Call for Nominaons for Inducon into the Arizona Veterans Hall of
Fame Class of 2015
Phoenix, Arizona - The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame located in Phoenix,
Arizona, seeks to recognize those Arizonans who have worn the uniform of
this Naon's Armed Forces, performed their military dues, have been
awarded an honorable discharge, and then connued to contribute to community, State, and Naon in an exemplary maner. These outstanding contribuons may, for example, be in areas of professional, civic, veteran's advocacy, polical and contribuons over the life of the nominee. The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame focuses on a nominee's contribuons outside of and a:er
his/her military service.
Regarding eligibility for nominaon to the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, the
nominee must have been born in Arizona, entered military service from Arizona, or lived in Arizona for a minimum of 5 years; must have received an honorable discharge from the US military service; be of good character and have
no felony convicons. Eligibility requirements are based on the Nominaon
applicaon deadline, or March 31st of the year. Posthumous nominaons are
accepted. To preclude conﬂict of interest or the appearance thereof, employees of the Governor's Oﬃce Execuve Staﬀ, the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Director and the Director’s Execuve Staﬀ, the UAV Chairperson
and members of the UAV AVHOF Selecons CommiGee, are not eligible for
nominaon for inducon into the AVHOF Class of 2015.
The Nominaon Form containing the guidelines for submiIng a Nominaon
is posted on the web site: www.azuav.org.
The postmark deadline is March 31st each year for submiIng the Nominaon Form, the copy of DD-Form 214 Proof of Honorable Military Service or
Cerﬁcate of Honorable Discharge (prior to 1950), and the Narrave addressing the Guidelines. The Nominaon packet is limited to a maximum of 12
single-sided pages, 8½ by 11. Nominaons exceeding 12 single-sided changes will be returned to the nominator for the re-submission of 12 single-sided
pages.
The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Inducon Ceremony is cheduled for Friday, October 23, 2015 at the Phoenix MarrioG Tempe at
The BuGes, 2000 Westcourt Way, Tempe 85282.
Veterans, military and the public are invited to the Inducon Ceremony and
luncheon. Luncheon registraon will be posted in September 2015 at the
web site: www.azuav.org
For more informaon about the Nominaon procedure, please contact Carol
Culbertson, Secretary, Uniﬁed Arizona Veterans, at
email: secretary@azuav.org or claudehc@yahoo.com,
or telephone (602) 943.7834.
Media Point of Contact:
Rob Welch, Chairman, Uniﬁed Arizona Veterans
Email: celcop@cox.net
Oﬃce: (480) 292-5822
The Arizona Veterans Connecon’s purpose and
goal is to connect veterans and their families
with informaon and acvies of importance
and relevance to the veteran community.
We will be diligent to provide a pla orm to
share the history and legacy of Arizona veterans,
past, present, and future, ulmately as a resource to all who serve or have served.
FROM THE CHAPLAIN
Dear Lord, We honor our veterans, worthy men and
women who gave their best when they were called upon
to serve and protect their country. We pray that you will
bless them, Lord, for their unselﬁsh service in the connual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and
our country’s heritage, for all of us.
Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for
the sacriﬁces they made for their many diﬀerent contribuons to America’s victories over tyranny and
oppression. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Joe Fletcher, Chaplain
Courtesy of the “K-Bar News”
White Tank Mountain Detachment #1246
Living Symbol of Freedom
Aurora, a beauful Bald Eagle. Liberty Wildlife travels
around the state with Aurora to raise awareness and delivers a strong message of the importance of conservaon. Visit their website and see how you can help:
www.libertywildlife.org
Photo by Marion Cartland
In regards to the front cover:
The Bald Eagle on the cover is a rescue
bird. Her name is “Aurora “. She is kept
at Liberty Wildlife, an animal rescue
and rehabilitaon group in Sco#sdale.
The picture in the background was captured at Monument Valley AZ.
Photography by Marion Cartland
Staﬀ Box
Marion Cartland
Publisher - Editor
Photographer
MGySgt Robert A. Flores
USMC (Ret.)
Contributors
Herb Zinn
If you would like to place an
advertisement in this publication,
please contact Marion Cartland at:
azvetcon@gmail.com
Or call
602-885-7038
Visit us on www.h#p://azveteransconnecon.org/ - h#ps://www.facebook.com/AZVETCON
Steve Hoza
Joe Fletcher, Chaplain
White Tank Mountain
Detachment #1246
Art Sloane
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Page 3
Memorial Service and Day of Remembrance for PFC Oscar Austin
The 2nd Annual Memorial Services / Remembrance Day for PFC
Oscar Ausn, USMC took place on February 22, 2015. The Oscar
Ausn Recognion CommiGee held a Day of Remembrance in
honor of Ausn and his act of heroism that saved lives during
the Vietnam Conﬂict. (Feb 23, 1969). The event was held at
Greenwood Cemetery on 23rd Ave and Van Buren, near the
Vietnam Wall of Honor. The event was aGended by family and
friends to honor and acknowledge his service and duty to his
comrades and country. Notable parcipants were the Buﬀalo
Soldiers of America / Arizona Chapter, American Legion and the
Oﬃce of Veterans Aﬀairs – Recognion Group. The Colors and
21 gun salute was presented by the Buﬀalo Soldiers of America
and the POW/MIA/KIA Honor Guard lead by D. Carrasco.
PFC Ausn was born in Nacogdoches, Texas on January 15,
1949, the son of Frank and Mildred Ausn. He graduated from
Phoenix Union High School in 1967 and was inducted into the
United States Marine Corps at Phoenix, Arizona, on April 22,
1968. PFC Ausn was an assistant machine gunner with Company E, Second BaGalion, Seventh Marines; First Marine Division.
While serving with his company six
miles west of Da Nang, South Vietnam,
on February 23, 1969, his company was
in acon during the early morning
hours against a large North Vietnamese
force. A:er his post was aGacked, he
noced a wounded comrade unconscious in an exposed posion. Ausn
unhesitangly went to his aid. When a
grenade landed near the injured man
he leaped between it and the wounded
marine and absorbed the eﬀects of the
explosion. Badly wounded, he turned
to render aid to his fallen comrade and saw an enemy soldier
aiming a weapon at the wounded man. Once again he resolutely
threw himself between the wounded marine and the enemy
soldier and in so doing was mortally wounded. The Medal of
Honor was presented to his parents by Vice President Spiro Agnew on April 20, 1970, at the White House.
USS Oscar Ausn (DDG-79) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship is
Private First Class Oscar Palmer Ausn’s currently part of Carrier Strike Group Ten. Oscar Ausn is named for Private First Class Oscar P.
Ausn, USMC, a recipient of the Medal of Honor
medals include:
Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
Naonal Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
w/two bronze stars
Republic of Vietnam
Campaign Medal
Page 4
Arizona Veterans Connecon
4th Marine Division Memorial Ceremony
Every year on or near the Iwo Jima Landing and Flag Raising
anniversary, survivors from the Paciﬁc Campaign gather at the
4th Marine Division Memorial at the north side of Wesley Bolin
Plaza on the east side of the State Capitol buildings. They assemble there to honor and show respect for those who gave
and sacriﬁced at a pivotal moment in World War II.
On February 20th, 2015 the WWII veterans and many others
gathered at 1100 hours for a 30 minute service to honor and
remember the 4th Marine Division of the United States Marine
Corps was formed. The organizaon and re-designaon of several other units and were formally acvated in August 1943.
A:er intensive training, the "Fighng Fourth of WWII" shipped
out in January 1944, and in 13 months made four major amphibious assaults in the baGles of Kwajalein ( Roi-Namur ), Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. On Iwo Jima, the 4th Marine Division
along with the 3rd and 5th Marine Divisions were given the dubious honor of assaulng and taking the island on February 19,
1945 - 70 years ago. The Patriot Guard Riders also parcipated
and stood the ﬂag line to honor the service of The Fourth Marine Division, members of “The Greatest Generaon”. The memorial and many others are something to be seen and shared
with all and are on display at the Wesley Bolin Plaza in downtown Phoenix next to the Arizona Capitol Museum.
Thank you so much to Gordon Brown of “Team Veteran” that
presented James Carey with a check for $5000 to help him receive HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy), that he will be receiving in Louisiana by Dr. Paul Harch. Dr. Harch and Harch Instute
are helping with the remaining costs. We are only hoping that
the VA will approve his need to stay in an Acute Rehab Hospital
while he is there. That is the only baGle we are currently facing.
This therapy is amazing. Please google HBOT.com and see the
amazing work and help especially for Vets with PTSD. If you have
anyone you know in congress or at the Phoenix VA please send
leGers, emails or calls to the Phoenix VA to approve James to go
to United Medical Rehab Hospital in Marrero, Louisiana. We
need your prays. He is supposed to start therapy on 3/9 so we
don't have much me..
Thank you Gordon and everyone else praying for our son. .
UPDATE: I just received word late yesterday evening the VA has
approved 90 days, NOW waing for the facility to give their go
ahead. James and his family leave tomorrow Saturday, to start
treatments on Monday!
.
UPDATE2: Flying to Louisiana in the morning to take our son to
have Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) thanks to Gordon
Brown of Team Veteran. Only challenge now is geIng the VA to
approve his stay at United Medical Rehab Hospital. They only
want to approve a sub-acute facility which is basically a Senior
Nursing Care facility. He was already turned down by one as
they know they can't help him with his needs due to his blindness, size and spascity. Why can't the VA ﬁgure that our son
deserves the best therapy while he is geIng this amazing therapy which by the way VA will not pay for or recognize at this me
even though it is helping so many Vets with PTS. If you know
anyone in any type of a power posion that can reach out to the
VA to approve James geIng Acute therapy, please contact us.
Anyone and everyone who can call the VA Phoenix Paent Advocate, our congressman, Senator, Mayor… whoever, please do
and or contact me privately!!! We need your prayers. At least
we will have a liGle fun in New Orleans for the weekend. James
H. Carey is so excited to start this
new venture.
.
Thank you all!!!
This is Gordon
with our family!!!
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Page 5
Arizona Submarine Veterans Perch Base Awards Annual Banquet
The 2015 Arizona Submarine Veterans Perch Base Awards Banquet took place on 24 January 2015 at the Pebblecreek Country
Club in Goodyear AZ. The fesvies were ﬁlled with the warmth
and brotherhood of shipmates. The evening started with the
welcome to all by the Base Commander of the Commander of
the Perch Base, Howard Doyle. Steve Leon, the Chaplain presented the invocaon acknowledging all those past and present in
prayer. All hands enjoyed an evening ﬁlled with dinner and
drinks and shared stories.
Guest speaker for this year’s banquet was Captain Gene Doyle,
Commander, Submarine Squadron Eleven, San Diego, CA. He
entered the Navy as a commissioned oﬃcer through Oﬃcer Candidate School, a:er graduang from Montana State University in
1989 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering.
Captain Doyle has been very acve in his career serving the submarine community and U.S. Navy.
The awards poron of the banquet recognized several deserving
recipients of membership awards as well as the “Sailor of the
Year” for 2014 for the Perch Base veterans group. Awards were
Le to Right: Howard Doyle presenng the
“Sailor of the year “ award to George Crider.
presented for Longevity, and Early Bird Dues. George Crider was
recognized as 2014 “Sailor of the Year” for the Perch Base. There
was a Silent Aucon that resulted in raising $1109.00 for the
Perch Base group.
There was also a ceremony occurs every banquet and that is the
Tolling for the Boats. The U.S. Submarine Veterans of World
War Two originally established the "Tolling for the Boats" ceremony. It is a unique and me-honored memorial service and is in
keeping with the ﬁnest tradions of the Navy. Custom has established that this ceremony is formal, and it honors the memory of
those submariners who lost their lives in the line of duty, especially the majority who perished during World War Two. In the
ceremony, the names of each of the U.S. submarines lost, along
with the fate of its crew, are read aloud as a ship’s bell is tolled
for each in turn.
The evening ended with closing remarks, remembrance of
“Departed Shipmates” and Benedicon by Perch Base Commander Howard Doyle and the chaplain Steve Leon.
L to R: Howard Doyle and Capt. Gene Doyle
Everyone was invited to stop on Sunday, March 8, 2015 to “Pray
– Salute – Support” our military men and women at the Gratude
Corner Tribute Wall located at the corner of 143 RD Avenue &
Indian Springs Road in Goodyear, AZ. The BBQ style luncheon was
held in support and help of employing “unemployable” veterans.
Sheriﬀ Joe Arpaio and his wife Ava stopped by to sign the wall, as
well as many veterans, friends and family members of veterans.
UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS is a 501(c) (3) non-proﬁt organizaon
focusing on issues important to military families. We believe that
the men and women who have served or are serving our country
should be treated with respect and dignity. So that each and every military family deserves every opportunity to have the security
of a home, employment opons and reliable transportaon that
get them to their jobs and back home again.
.
UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS is commiGed to helping those who
have selﬂessly given to our country. It is our duty and our honor
to assist our veterans and their immediate families and this organizaon is designed to give a “Hand Up, Not a Hand Out”;
oﬀering assistance where needed in a digniﬁed and honorable
manner to members of the military and their families. We can do
this but not alone. UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS does their work
through donaons of money, house materials and opportunies
to make a living. This gives our servicemen the chance to make a
diﬀerence in their community. We assist in a variety of ways to
ensure a smooth adjustment for the families of the deployed and
an easier transion to civilian life once they have returned. We
Perch Base members and Capt. Gene Doyle
ARE only a phone call away. Our Vision is to provide needed opportunies and support to both our military personnel and their
families whether they are currently deployed or have recently
returned.
.
For more informaon visit their website at:
: www.upbytheirbootstraps.org
Maricopa County
Sheriﬀ Joe Arpaio
and Jay Humphrey,
Founder of
Up by their Bootstraps
Page 6
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Arizona’s Great Escape
By Steve Hoza
One of the liGle-known facets of World War Two history is the
story of German prisoners of war (POWs) who were held in the
United States from 1942 to 1946. By the end of the war in Europe,
some 400,000 soldiers from all over the baGlefronts of Europe and
Africa were brought to the America. Warme condions near the
baGlefronts made the logiscs of housing and feeding so many
POWs nearly impossible. It was decided to begin bringing the prisoners to US shores where they could be handled closer to the tenants of the Geneva Convenon.
The prisoners were housed in 511 camps in nearly every state in
the connental United States. These prisoners would become a
substute labor force in America, working on farms and in various
non-war related work, being paid for their eﬀorts.
The State of Arizona had 23 such camps. The largest in the state,
and one of the largest in the country, was on the northern outskirts of the town of Florence. The second largest camp was in
Papago Park, located on then-federal land just north of where the
Phoenix Zoo now stands. The other camps were small tent camps
that were constructed on or near the agricultural centers where
the prisoners did work harvesng crops.
Camp Papago Park was a place of internment for members of the
German Navy: U-boat men, merchant mariners, surface raiders
and land-based naval personnel. The camp held approximately
3,000 prisoners and, like most POW camps in the country, was a
self-contained city. It had its own power plant, hospital, ﬁre department, police force, (US military policemen), theaters, sports
ﬁelds and newspapers for both the Germans and the American
personnel.
Escapes from Camp Papago Park, and the other camp, were common. Guarding was rather lax as it was believed that, even if a prisoner were to get loose, they really couldn’t get very far. Upon recapture, POWs were subjected to punishment no worse than two
weeks on bread and water. With these condions, there was really
liGle incenve for the Germans to want to wander away from a
work detail for a few hours or days of freedom before either turning themselves in or being retaken.
Camp Papago Park may have disappeared into historical obscurity
if it was not for one escape: the largest single mass escape on
American soil during the war. The prisoners in Compound 1A were
veteran escapees from the other camps that they had been transferred from in Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas. One of the escapees, Heinrich Palmer, describes the plan and his parcipaon in it:
. . . I was held in Compound Two. I heard of the plan to escape by
tunnel through a contact I had in Compound One where the tunnel
was being dug. I talked to my friend Reinhard Mark about it and
immediately he was willing to take part in it. I don’t know who it
was that had the idea to tunnel out. When I heard about the plan
the tunnel was already being dug. It was about the middle of December [1944] when the tunnel was ready. There were 25 men
parcipang in the escape. Twenty-three were in Compound One.
The prisoners in Compound One were the so-called
‘troublemakers,’ as the Americans called them.
I did not help with the digging of the tunnel, but I was told of the
diﬃcules that had to be overcome. The soil in the tunnel was
hard, but not so hard that it couldn’t be broke through. Digging
was done mainly at night so that they wouldn’t be interrupted by
surprise searches by the guards. As the tunnel got longer, geIng
the dirt out became a problem. They then built a small wood cart
with wheels that would be pulled back and forth between the man
digging and a man at the entrance.
The leader of the escapees was former U-boat commander (and
oﬃcer from the German pocket baGleship Graf Spee) Jürgen
WaGenberg. On the night of December 23rd, 1944, the 25 Germans escaped in teams of two and three. Their objecve was to
get into Mexico (which had not yet declared war on the Axis) and
get on a neutral ship back to Germany.
Three of the prisoners did not like the idea of hiking all the way
through the deserts of central and southern Arizona. Escapees
Wilhelm Günther, Fritz Utzolino and Wolfgang Clarus had a stolen
Arizona road map that showed the Gila River as a blue line that
ﬂowed into the Colorado River, then south into the Gulf of California. Months before the escape, they built a three-man kayak which
they smuggled in two secon, including oars, through the tunnel.
When they reached the Gila River, they were cres`allen to discover that the river was just a series of puddles. They were recaptured soon a:erwards.
There were hundreds of (mistaken) sighngs of the Germans, from
California to New Mexico to Colorado. Even a troop of Boy Scouts
hiking in the hills near San Diego were reported to the authories.
Captain Jürgen Wa$enberg (standing in center with arms folded) and
fellow “troublemakers” of Compound 1A in Camp Papago Park. Many
of the POWs in this photograph parcipated in the mass tunnel escape
of December 1944.
The three POWs who a$empted to sail a kayak down the Gila River and
to freedom. From le is Wolfgang Clarus, Wilhelm Günther and Fritz
Utzolino.
Arizona Veterans Connecon
All of the escapees were recaptured only a few weeks a:er the
escape. Dorothy Jorgensen, who worked in the Provost Marshall
Oﬃce at Camp Papago Park, recounts:
I was not involved with any of the interrogaons of the recaptured prisoners, but I did type up all of the transcripts. They
thought it was a big joke. They knew they really couldn’t escape.
It was boredom and they had to do something. It was just to
cause some trouble for the Americans. Some of them had given
themselves up right away because it was cold and rainy the night
of the escape and they wanted to get out of it.
Heinrich Palmer and his partner, Reinhard Mark, made it the
furthest of all the POWs. They made it, on foot (traveling at
night), from the Phoenix area to within 10 miles of the Mexican
border in 11 days. They were recaptured by members of the US
Border Patrol as they slept under some bushes. A:er being
frisked, the two prisoners were taken by car to the town of Sell,
Arizona. Palmer connues: . . we
stopped in front of a drug store
where we could choose what we
wanted to eat for the evening.
The Border Patrol oﬃcer paid for
it. We drove on and stopped in
front of a bungalow-style house.
It was the home and service
shops for the Border Patrol oﬃcers. One of them took us to the
restroom where we were allowed
to clean up. A:er 11 days we
needed it.
Although we didn’t have our baggage they sll didn’t trust us and
we were guarded even while in
POW identy photograph of
escapee Heinrich Palmer.
the bathroom. Meanwhile the
Palmer had been a crewman on wife of the house prepared our
the raider Thor.
Page 7
meal and invited us in to the table that was decked out with a
white tablecloth. We demonstrated that we were civil Europeans by using our knives and forks properly. We were quite popular in Sells. While we ate and even a:erwards, the people would
come and press their noses against the windows to look at us.
We couldn’t understand what was so interesng to them.
A:er we ate we were invited into the living room. The American
oﬃcials and their wives did so much for us that we got the feeling that we were part of the family. Because the US Army could
not pick us up immediately we stayed the night as their guests.
In the words of many of the former guards and POWs, the escape was soon forgoGen and everyone got back to the usual
workings of the camp. All was not well, however, with the American public and the Arizona state legislature. Hearings were held
on how the prisoners could have built such a tunnel right under
the noses of the American personnel in the camp. The US camp
commander was reassigned. Angry leGers to the local newspapers complained of the amounts of food found on the recaptured Germans in a society that was subject to raoning.
Reﬂecng back over 40 years a:er the event, Heinrich Palmer
said:
At Papago Park, the US oﬃcers and the guard personnel always
treated me fair and correct despite the trouble that our escape
caused. From the things I’ve read, I have learned that our march
through the desert was a real feat. My escape was an adventure
for me. At that me I did not think about the dangers and what
could have happened to me. As a youth, one is always opmisc
and posively-oriented. I would like to add that none of us ever
thought of sabotage or of harming any American cizens during
our escape. It was pure youthful desire for adventure. I just
wanted to leave the everyday life of a POW and try to reach a
desired goal. What amazes me is that even 45 years later my
escape is sll of interest.
Newspaper arcle from The Phoenix Gaze$e. By the me this arcle
appeared, several of the prisoners had been recaptured.
Page 8
Arizona Veterans Connecon
McFarland Memorial Dedication and Museum Exhibit
On Saturday February 14th, 2015 a new memorial was dedicated at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix.
The memorial is to acknowledge Ernest W. McFarland, or “Mac”
as he liked to be called, served Arizona as an U.S. Senator (19411953), Governor (1955-1959) and Chief Jusce of the Supreme
Court (1965-1971). His impact on Arizona is sll being felt today;
whether it was ﬁghng for water rights, his reless work on the
G.I. Bill of Rights or the impressive amount of opinions he wrote
as an Arizona Supreme Court Jusce; McFarland has le: a
lasng legacy of change and improvement across Arizona. Mac’s
greatest accomplishment was creang real opportunies for
others to pursue their dreams. The exhibit will connue to support that legacy on behalf of the late senator
John D. Lewis gave the opening speech about McFarland’s contribuons and life’s work for veterans and Arizona followed by
an Invocaon given by Rev. Dr. Larry Norris, Senior Pastor, central United Methodist Church. McFarland family members and
honorary guests were introduced and spoke during the commemoraon. Vincent Murray, MA, Historian spoke of “Mac”
McFarland’s legacy to Arizona’s veterans. Don W. Ryden, AIA
and his son Erik Ryden the designers and architects of the
McFarland Memorial, shared how they developed their vision to
the ﬁnal design. The ceremonial presentaon of the memorial to
the people of Arizona was done by Nola Barnes of the Arizona
Department of Administraon. The event concluded with the
ribbon cuIng by members of the McFarland family.
Arizona Capitol Museum is also honoring the late Sen. McFarland with the “Father of the G.I. Bill” exhibit that opened on
February 28th, 2015. The G.I. Bill connues to fund educaon
and provide low-interest, zero-down home loans to millions of
veterans to this day. The McFarland room is the latest addion
to the exhibit Arizona: Defense to Development, which explores
the impact World War II had on the state. “Since 1944, more
than 19 million service members naonwide have beneﬁGed
from Senator McFarland’s legislaon,” said Secretary of State
Michele Reagan. “A veteran of World War I, it was important to
McFarland to assist veterans transioning back into civilian life.”
The new McFarland exhibit has an interacve element that allows visitors to create their own virtual memorial. Visitors use
their great life accomplishments, real or imagined, and create a
monument depicng their lives. Compare your virtual memorial
with the new Ernest McFarland Memorial newly rededicated in
Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza.
Above: Don W. Ryden and J. Erik Ryden
Right: McFarland family members cuIng the
ribbon at the dedicaon.
If you would like to place an
advertisement in this publication,
please contact Marion Cartland at:
azvetcon@gmail.com
Or call
602-885-7038
Visit us on www.h#p://azveteransconnecon.org - h#ps://www.facebook.com/AZVETCON
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Page 9
Masonic Presentation at Phoenix Veterans Home
On Sunday the 4th of January, Most Worshipful (MW) Mike
Manning made a special presentaon to a deserving brother
Worshipful Brother (WB) Charles Morris at the Arizona State
Veterans Home. This presentaon was ﬁlled with several challenges and searches to fulﬁll its ulmate goal. The following is a
brief story of the commitment of one lodge brothers’ eﬀorts to
take care of a fellow Mason and veteran.
.
A brief history of the presentaon, MW Manning had a chance
meeng with a brother at the VA home in September of
2014. One of the nursing staﬀ indicated to him that there was a
resident a couple doors from his father who had a Masonic ring
similar to his, and it would be nice if he could speak with
him. She cauoned Mike that he was a Demena paent and
did not speak a whole lot other than yes/no. He met with Brother Morris a couple days later and a:er comparing rings, a certain
light came back to this brother. He talked and talked and connues to talk about Masonry. Mike asked when he was raised a
Mason and Bro. Morris could not recall the date but said it was a
lodge in Ohio.
.
Mike decided to contact the Grand Lodge of Ohio and was put in
contact with the lodge secretary WB James Gillahan. The lodge
secretary indicated that the original lodge Brother Morris was
raised in has since merged with their lodge in the late 90’s. WB
Gillahan indicated that Brother Morris was listed as suspended
due to Non Paid Dues, for several years. It appeared that Bro.
Morris had just disappeared from the earth. Mike explained the
circumstances and that he was and has been for some me a
permanent resident of the Arizona State Veterans Home in
Phoenix. WB Gillahan informed me that they were having a stated meeng the following week and would present this to the
lodge for acon.
.
The following month Brother Manning received a phone call
from the Ohio Lodge secretary indicang that Quarry Lodge voted unanimously to re-instate this brother, and forever relieve
him from further dues. Mike was told that their lodge was preparing a leGer and dues card and would be mailing it to him in
the coming weeks. He was also informed that Bro. Morris was
raised a Master Mason in 1967 in Denison OH. Bro. Morris was
one of those brothers who aGended lodge 1-2 mes a month at
best due to work commitments and family, however when he
was in lodge and called upon knew all parts of the ritual and
could sit any chair needed for the lodge, however could never
commit to a chair and never advanced to the chair of Worshipful
Master WM.
.
Mike was able to get the contact informaon for Bro. Morris’s
spouse, Cathleen, who is also a resident of a long term care facility in the Phoenix area. Mrs. Morris was very excited to hear
what was done, and indicated that he truly loved his me in the
lodge and was also a member of ScoIsh Rite (32nd). Mrs. Morris went on to say that she was concerned about him not having
his original white apron. She stated that his father was also a
Mason, and upon his death they could not locate his white
apron, so Bro. Morris put his own on his father so he could be
properly clad for his journey to the celesal lodge. WM Manning
again contacted Quarry Lodge and requested a white apron
from their lodge with appropriate names/dates which he received for presentaon to Bro. Morris. WM Manning took this
request to one of his lodges, Camelback 75, and a:er telling the
story of Bro. Morris he was voted in unanimously voted in as an
Honorary Member and an Honorary Past Master of Camelback
lodge. On January 4th 2015, MW Mike Manning presented WB
Charles Morris with his patrioc Past Masters apron in front of a
crowd of over 100 Masonic Brothers and family/friends.
Charles being acknowledged
by a fellow Masonic brothers.
(Center - boGom) Charles’s
wife placing his father’s
Masonic ring on his ﬁnger.
Page 10
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Wounded Warriors versus The NFL Alumni of Arizona - 2015
A Game of Honor took place on Wednesday, January 28 at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, AZ. The Wounded Warrior
Amputee Football Team was composed of veterans of the Iraq
and Afghanistan conﬂicts who now wish to visibly demonstrate
that the loss of a limb does not mean the end of an athlec career. To honor America’s military and their families, Humana, a
leading health and well-being company, hosted the charity ﬂag
football game between the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football
Team and more than 40 current and rered Naonal Football
League stars, including former players from the Arizona Cardinals. With over 10,000 in aGendance, including Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, the WWAFT improved its record to 10-0 with a
58-21 thumping of the NFL Alumni at their Super Bowl 49 Tribute & Flag Football Challenge.
The event was more than just a compeon between players, it
was an event ﬁlled with support from the community for the
veterans who served and gave so much for their country. The
excitement and fun was shared by all who got to meet celebries, local community leaders, local company representaves /
supporters as well as members of both teams.
One of the highlights was the parcipaon by Rap Music performer “Snoop Dogg” who entertained all by being an honorary
member of the Wounded Warriors Amputee Football Team for
the game. Many NFL legends were interacng with many of the
fans who aGended the event by signing autographs and sports
memorabilia.
This is the ﬁ:h Wounded Warrior charity football game Humana
has sponsored. Humana’s overall contribuon to the Wounded
Warrior Amputee Football Team is $250,000. Proceeds from the
game beneﬁt the Wounded Warrior Amputee Football Team
(WWAFT) and various disabled veterans organizaons in Arizona.
Launched in 2011, Humana’s Veterans Iniave looks to serve
veterans in three ways: careers with Humana support for entrepreneurship, and well-being products and services. Humana has
hired more than 2,300 veterans and/or spouses and will connue its veterans hiring eﬀorts well into the future. Humana is also
commiGed to supporng veterans’ occupaonal futures through
a $1-million contribuon to the naonal Entrepreneurship Boot
camp for Veterans with Disabilies (EBV). For more informaon,
visit www.Humana.com.
Above: WWAFT team members arriving ,praccing.
Right: Rocky Bleier, decorated Vietnam veteran and
four-me Super Bowl champion
Le:: Snoop Dogg; son of a Vietnam Veteran.
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Page 11
Dan Manucci , co-host of a sports
radio talk show, former NFL player
Dave Stevens, a former minor league baseball
player for the St. Paul Saints and current ESPN
Assignment Desk Manager
Page 12
Arizona Veterans Connecon
70th Anniversary of the Iwo Jima Flag Raising
Seventy years has passed since the U.S. Marines ﬁrst raised the
American ﬂag on Mt. Suribachi on the Japanese island of Iwo
Jima. On Saturday February 21st at 0830, the annual Gila River
Indian Community Iwo Jima Memorial Parade in Sacaton, Arizona to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Flag Raising
on Iwo Jima. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian
Naon and Lt. Gov. Monica L. Antone welcomed the many veterans as they proceeded down Casa Blanca road in Sacaton.
Governor Lewis praised the veterans for their service and
acknowledged the sacriﬁces they made to preserve our freedoms. The parade began with a ﬂyover of a B-25J Mitchell
Bomber (Made in The Shade) accompanied by formaon of 6
WWII Boeing/Stearman also ﬂew over the parade.
This year’s parade brought over 110 entries to the Gila River
Indian Community. Veterans groups came from as far away as
North Dakota, Washington and Illinois. Among the procession
of WWII veterans, six Navajo Code Talkers came out to support
the event. Each of them was showered with thanks from fellow
veterans and parade guests. There were Iwo Jima survivors,
Code Talkers & Nave American Veterans Groups from New
York to Florida to Oklahoma up to Michigan & Wisconsin.
Tribes from Washington to Montana & the Dakotas, Kansas,
New Mexico and all over Arizona were in aGendance. American
Legion Posts, VFW posts, Marine Corps League Detachments
and ROTC / JROTC groups from all branches. Veterans Motorcycle Clubs, Bagpipers and many other groups were present to
honor this day.
Kenneth Hayes, brother of Ira, and a highly decorated Korean
War veteran, was Grand Marshal of the parade. Adam Beach
was Honorary Grand Marshall for this year’s Gila River Indian
Community Iwo Jima Memorial Parade. He has played PFC Ira
H. Hayes in the “Flags of our Fathers” and then as a Navajo
Code Talker in “Windtalkers”. Mr. Beach even got up and performed by singing an “Honor Song” to pay respect to those
warriors of the past and present. He also spoke to those gathered at the park of his respect in maintaining and connuing
the tradions of his ancestors for the future. Beach closed the
ceremonies by talking about his appreciaon for service men
and women. He said, “Working on this ﬁlm, I’ve learned that
our veterans or new soldiers, they have a lot of courage, but a
humble quality.”
Later in the day, Ira H. Hayes American Legion Post 84 placed
wreaths at the diﬀerent monuments at Mathew B. Juan – Ira H.
Hayes Veterans Memorial Park to pay tribute to fallen comrades and the sacriﬁces they made. Post 84 Commander Urban
Giﬀ started oﬀ the ceremony saying, “The mission we have
here is to give due reverence and recognion for the raising of
the U.S. ﬂag on Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima.” He said the families
at home also endure the hardships of not knowing the fate of
their family member. “We thank you for your courage, and we
thank you for your support.”
Ira H. Hayes American Legion Post 84 opening the parade.
Adam Beach
Arizona Veterans Connecon
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Page 13
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Page 14
Military Family Support Group
Foot powder/body powder, Microwave popcorn, Tuna/meat
packets (foil packs), crackers, Hand towels & wash cloths, Facial
ssue – travel packs, Twin sheets/pillow cases, Lysol, Fabreeze,
Monthly Packing Party
Join us on the last Wednesday of every month from 5:00 to 8:00 Toothpaste, toothbrushes, Sunscreen, Insect repellant – nonaerosol, Wet wipes (baby wipes, unscented), Razors, Hand and
PM for our packing party to send care packages overseas. Debody loon (unscented), Hand sanizer, Crossword puzzle books
cember is the only month we do not have a packing party.
We meet at: Sweet Tomatoes, 10046 N 26th Dr, Phoenix, AZ (oﬀ Pocket-sized games, AA baGeries, Calling cards for overseas,
the I-17 access road northbound between Dunlap and Peoria
DVD’s/CD’s (new or used).
Eang is an opon however; Sweet Tomatoes gives us their 15% Items are easier to pack if they are travel sized. Pop-top cans or
coupon discount if you menon you are with our group.
foil pouches for food items. Dried fruit like small raisin boxes,
Everyone is welcome. You don’t have to have someone in the
nut items, small packs of cookies and crackers pack nicely. Make
Military. All we ask is that you want to support our troops.
sure items will ﬁt the ﬂat-rate box size 14″x12″x3-1/2″.
We are an all-volunteer 501 C 3 non-proﬁt. Your donaons are
What We Need/Care Packages
tax deducble. Your donaons are a vital part of making sure
Small canned food and fruit (pop-top lids), Candy, snacks
our men and women overseas get care packages while serving in
(nothing that will melt), Gatorade/Tang/Kool-Aid (sweetened
harms way. Any amount you are able to donate will make that
powder drink mixes), Juice boxes. Coﬀee bags (Folger singles,
diﬀerence. To donate or for more info visit their webpage at :
etc), condiment packs from fast food restaurants, Beef Jerky
hGp://www.militaryfamilysupportgroup.org
Until They All Come Home
StandDown Feedback by Art Sloane
The leadership of Maricopa StandDown wants to thank the many doctors and other providers at the recent StandDown, which
treated the 570 pets that aGended with their owners. Veterinarians who donated their services were Dr. Connie Anderson, Animal
House Veterinarian Clinic, Queen Creek; Dr. Colleen Salmon, VCA Phoenix West Animal Hospital; Dr. Lindsay Danner, VCA Mesa
Animal Hospital and Dr. NaneGe Westhof, VCA Tri-City Animal Hospital and Acacia Cat Hospital.
In addion three groomers brought in their trucks: Jason@Aussie Mobile Pet Grooming, 602-688-3174; Toyre@Petutopia, 623-755
-1050; and Brenda@AllDogsGotoBrenda.com, 602-692-4701 North Phoenix area only. Also taking part were Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, which spayed and neutered pets. They had two 31-foot units. Vets who did not bring their pet were given a
free cerﬁcate for care at another me. Also, thanks go to Dogs on Deployment and Pets Smart Charies. Also a big thank you to
Bonnie Clark of Pads for Paws in Sun Lakes for providing 200 dog beds.
These services, under the direcon of Julie Carlson, a cerﬁed veterinary technician from the Pima Medical Instute, and her
mother, Connie, will also be oﬀered at the Flagstaﬀ StandDown in May.
Many veterans have contacted me over the years to try and get in touch with a friend from the service. At StandDown this past
week, Shelly Cloud, a professional invesgator, found someone for me in less than 10 minutes. She will provide this service for any
veteran. Contact her at 520-224-5621 orshellycloud@iss-grp.com
I met many outstanding veterans helping at the Maricopa StandDown this past weekend. Now is the me to nominate them for
inducon into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. Nominaons are open unl March 31. Nominaon papers are available
at www.azuav.org.
Contact Rob Welch, chairman of the Uniﬁed Arizona Veterans, at 480-292-5822 with all quesons or myself, Art Sloane, at 480-802
-6810. Do not wait for someone else to do it — act now.
Reach rered Master Chief PeGy Oﬃcer Arthur G. Sloane, Coast Guard, at 480-802-6810 orartgbeard@aol.com.
Master Chief PeGy Oﬃcer
Arthur G. Sloane, Coast Guard Ret.
Closing ceremony at the StandDown The JROTC unit from
BeGy H Fairfax High School posted the colors
Guest Speaker at the closing Ceremony
Congressman Ruben Gallego
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Page 15
The magazine‘s purpose is to connect veterans and their families with informaon, events and resources of importance
and relevance to the veterans community. We are commiGed to provide a pla`orm to share the history and legacy of
Arizona veterans past, present, and future; ulmately as a resource to all who serve or have served.
The Arizona Veterans Connecon has become a recognized veterans magazine to gather and present informaon that
is current and meaningful to the veterans of Arizona.
Since the beginning of the magazine we have grown and currently reaching a readership of more than 400,000
individuals throughout Arizona as well as naonwide.
The magazine is solely funded by donaons and adversements. You can help with the connued success of the
magazine by placing your business or organizaons adversement in both the printed and online publicaon,
by contacng Marion Cartland Publisher-Editor.
Email: azvetcon@gmail.com or Phone: 602-885-7038
Find us on Facebook at: AZVETCON
The Arizona Veterans Connecon magazine is published every two months to keep the news “New”
The publicaon is also available online at : h#p://azveteransconnecon.org
Arizona Veterans Connecon is NOT aﬃliated with any government agency, and does NOT receive any government funding.
Glendale Veterans Memorial
For Every Drop of Blood - For Every Life Devoted Veterans
Memorial - by Joe Tyler
.
Bronze, copper, steel, sandstone and concrete - Completed:
2001
This artwork includes ﬁve welded steel trees, one for each
branch of the armed services. The intertwined limbs of each
sculpted tree are symbolic of the combined eﬀorts of the Air
Force, Army, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard in the defense of
the United States. The leaves in the sculpted canopies represent
the thousands of Veterans who have served, are currently serving and will serve in the Armed Forces. In the center is an obelisk
featuring a depicon of the baGleship silver service paGern commissioned for the USS Arizona and actual salvaged pieces from
the USS Arizona.
.
Joe Tyler currently lives and works in Arizona. He has successfully
completed public art projects for several Valley cies,
including Tempe, ScoGsdale, Mesa and Phoenix. The City of Glendale gratefully acknowledges the Glendale Veterans Memorial
Associaon and Bob ManzeI (donator of USS Arizona salvaged
pieces) for their help in the creaon of the Veterans Memorial.
The Memorial is located at:
.
Glendale Public Library
.
5959 W. Brown Street
.
The Memorial borders Sahuaro Ranch Park, which oﬀers both a
recreaonal and historic experience. This park is unique with its
historic ranch buildings and its recreaonal park areas. Visitors
can picnic, play on the playgrounds, visit with chickens, view peacocks, explore the old ranch grounds or play a ball game.
This maybe a good place for a "Ride Stop", there is plenty of
FREE parking at the Library and/or the Park which borders the
Library.
Page 16
Arizona Veterans Connecon
The Battle For Midway, June, 1942: Anatomy of a Miracle
Part 2: The Die is Cast
By Herb Zinn
In Part 1 of this series, we examined how Japan's culture and belief
system laid the groundwork for defeat at Midway. There were,
however, other important consideraons that sealed Japan's fate.
We will examine these next.
The commonly held belief is that Japan's Midway disaster stemmed
from poor taccal leadership: had 1st Kido Butai's commander, Admiral Nagumo Chuichi, not ordered his reserve aircra: to change
from ship-killing bombs and torpedoes to high explosives for use
against ground targets for a second
strike against Midway, his carriers
would never have been caught as
they were by American dive bombers, with deck loads of fueled and
armed aircra:. The facts do not
support this at all. Nagumo bears
some of the blame for Japan's defeat, but not all of it. There is a
blend of factors out of Nagumo's
control that needs to be beGer understood to appreciate how the U.S.
Navy succeeded against such overChuichi_Nagumo
whelming odds.
First, the odds were not so overwhelming. The two forces that confronted each other on June 4, 1942 were fairly evenly matched in
terms of striking power. Japan had been successful in the ﬁrst six
months of the war by massing the combined strength of all six of
1st Kido Butai's ﬂeet carriers. Midway was a departure, because
one-third of 1st Kido Butai's strength had been crippled at Coral
Sea. Without Shokaku and Zuikaku, 1st Kido Butai was on par with
the Americans. Despite being outnumbered in carriers (4 to 3),
American carrier air groups were larger than their Japanese counterparts and were beefed up by over 100 Army, Navy and Marine
land-based aircra: at Midway. The Japanese did not know this going into the baGle and even if they had, the prevailing mood of their
leadership would have dismissed it, believing they would sweep
American opposion from the skies. Midway was to be a contest of
airborne strength and not a contest of surface combatants. Although the opponents were fairly evenly matched in aircra: striking
power, the Japanese excelled in beGer aircra: and beGer trained,
veteran air crews; but as we will see, this did not lt the outcome in
Japan's favor.
Second, a fatal ﬂaw existed in Japanese hardware deployed at Midway. Had the Japanese heeded the vital lessons from Coral Sea,
they might have idenﬁed these deﬁciencies, corrected or compensated for them. But this would have involved challenging exisng
doctrine and the authority upon which it was propped, something
at odds with Japanese culture. The Japanese remained blinded by
their "victory disease" and rigid adherence to doctrine and authority. Unl Midway (and Coral Sea) Japanese carrier forces had never
been seriously opposed by equivalent force and so these inherent
shortcomings were not apparent. For one thing, Japanese carrier
design and operaonal doctrine were eventually bound to fail under the stress of baGle. Japanese carriers at the me were not designed with an armored ﬂight deck as were Brish carriers, nor did
they have venlang hangar deck doors, as did their American
counterparts. Bombs could readily penetrate their carriers' ﬂight
decks into vital ship compartments. The lack of adequate venlaon made for the compression of aviaon and chemical gases, combining them into a volale mixture that would feed any ﬁre caused
by a bomb hit. Japanese carrier doctrine called for the arming and
fueling of aircra: below deck in poorly venlated hangar spaces.
Only once the aircra: were so prepared were they brought up on
deck to be warmed up in preparaon for take-oﬀ. So when American dive bombers suddenly appeared overhead at 10:20 AM on
June 4, their targets -- Akagi, Kaga and Soryu -- with their packed
hangar decks cluGered with fueled airplanes, bombs and torpedoes
were a disaster waing to happen.
Third, Japanese defense was not as eﬀecve as originally portrayed.
The tradional view of the baGle casts the Japanese with an impenetrable force of Zero ﬁghters that slaughtered wave a:er wave of
American aGack aircra:. That is certainly true in some cases, like
the tragic fate of Hornet's Torpedo Squadron 8, but here, too, there
were fatal ﬂaws that the American success ulmately exploited.
First, the Zeros' ammo supply was limited, and when they came up
against overbuilt American aircra: like the F4F Wildcat and SBD
Dauntless, their pilots found their ammunion supply -- especially
20 mm cannon -- would not last long enough for sustained combat,
necessitang a return to the carrier to rearm and refuel. In fact, the
repeve nature of American air aGacks from 0700 hours through
1027 hours meant the Japanese carriers were compelled to pay
more aGenon to violent maneuvering as well the recovery and
launching of combat air patrol (CAP) Zero ﬁghters than they did
preparing to launch subsequent strikes on Midway or the opposing
American carrier forces. For this reason, the American aGacks were
more than eﬀecve even though most aGackers failed to score hits.
They ed up the Japanese so eﬀecvely that 1st Kido Butai's core
strength was neutralized. Compounding this was the poor quality
of airborne radios carried by the Japanese ﬁghters. The Japanese
had no eﬀecve anaircra: or ﬁghter control directors as did their
American counterparts and so the Zeros were free to chase a:er
targets of opportunity at all altudes and direcons, with liGle appreciaon for the taccal aspects of the developing baGle. With
American aGackers coming in successive waves from almost all
points of the compass, the defenders were hard pressed to keep
them all from penetrang the defensive shield. It was like the LiGle
Dutch Boy keeping his ﬁnger in the dyke. Eventually it had to burst.
In addion, unlike their American counterparts, the Japanese
screening ships escorng the carriers were not close at hand to provide addional anaircra: support. Japanese ships at the me
were not equipped with radar. Instead, the baGleship, cruiser and
destroyer escort deployed miles away from the carriers to scout the
approach of opposing forces. They then ﬁred their main baGeries
or made smoke calling aGenon to the incoming strike. But the
carriers were expected to defend themselves against airborne
aGack. In April, 1942, when 1st Kido Butai sored into the Indian
Ocean to aGack Brish units there, they should have foreseen these
weaknesses.
.
Nine Brish Blenheim
bombers aGacked Akagi
without
warning, making their way through the
gaps in carrier air defense.
Although no hits were
scored and most of the
aGackers were shot down
by pursuing Zeros, the lesson learned should have
been apparent. This starkly foretold what would
happen on June 4 when
American dive bombers
suddenly showed up above
Midway Atoll Eastern Island in
1st Kido Butai.
Foreground, Sand in background
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Fourth is the issue of intelligence. Most
of the aGenon here is paid to the U.S.
Navy's deciphering of the Japanese Naval
Code before the baGle which, of course,
was a great advantage to Chester Nimitz.
It allowed him to properly deploy his
limited forces. But more aGenon needs
to be paid to the Japanese side and its
failures. The plan laid out by Yamamoto
called for a cordon of submarines to take
staon between Hawaii and Midway to
detect and aGack the American carriers
Chester Nimitz, 1942
C-in-C U.S. Paciﬁc Fleet. as they sored from Pearl Harbor a:er
the Japanese struck Midway. Because
Nimitz knew the Japanese plan, his carriers were already en route
to Point Luck, their staon north of Midway, before the aGack.
When the submarines arrived late on staon, the opposing carrier force had already passed through the area. No one ever alerted Yamamoto to this. Moreover, the Japanese plan called for
surveillance ﬂights of Pearl Harbor by long-ranged ﬂying boats
that would stage from French Frigate Shoals, a small atoll south
of Midway, where they would refuel en route to Oahu. When
they arrived, American warships were already there on staon,
defeang this reconnaissance eﬀort. This, too, was not immediately known by Yamamoto who thought his ﬂying boats were on
staon keeping tabs on American ﬂeet movements at Pearl Harbor. Whether he would have changed his plan had he known this
vital reconnaissance was not in place is something we will never
know.
A related consideraon is the weakness of the Japanese search
plan on the morning of the baGle. The Americans devoted far
more resources to seeking out the Japanese, including four
squadrons of PBY Catalina ﬂying boats -- totaling 29 in all -- that
searched out to 700 miles in a 180 degree arc west of Midway.
When the me came, the Americans knew the Japanese were on
hand, stemming from their early sighngs of various units of the
aGacking force. The Japanese, however, limited their search to
ten cruiser-borne search aircra: on Chikuma and Tone that ﬂew
out to 150 miles searching for an enemy they did not believe to
be there in the ﬁrst place because neither their submarines nor
ﬂying boats had reported anything. The Japanese could have
beefed up their reconnaissance plan with carrier aircra:, but
their doctrine dictated that these be reserved for the aGack.
Also, their search aircra: were launched before dawn and had
overﬂown likely areas of American approach in the dark or above
cloud cover. Had a redundant set of aircra: been launched a:er
sunrise to ﬂy the same course as those launched earlier, the
American ﬂeet might have been detected before it was -- when it
was too late to do anything about it, because the American strike
force had already been launched from Enterprise and Yorktown
against 1st Kido Butai. Sadly, as an aside, Hornet's air group did
not parcipate in the aGack, except for John Waldron's Torpedo
Page 17
Squadron 8, because they
were incompetently led by
their commander, Stanhope Ring, on what would
come to be called the
"ﬂight to nowhere." This
perhaps cost the Americans the loss of the carrier
Yorktown, because Ring's
presence over 1st Kido
Butai at 1020 hours that
SBDs returning to Yorktown
morning would have surely sealed the fate of
Japan's fourth carrier,
Hiryu, whose remnant air
group instead badly crippled Yorktown.
None of these Japanese
shortcomings are meant
to take away from the
bravery, dogged persistence and aggressiveness
of the American aviators
Hiryu burning, June 5 1942
who fought the carrier baGle on June 4. Against beGer equipment, beGer trained veteran aircrew and the percepon of overwhelming odds, these men fought a desperate baGle that in the
end, ﬁrmly changed the course of the Paciﬁc War. Without
knowing it, they discovered and exploited core weaknesses in
Japanese doctrine, baGle behavior and weapon systems that
would ulmately be Japan's undoing in its war with the United
States. Japan was far from defeated, but the steady drain of resources begun at Midway and accelerated in the Guadalcanal
campaign made the reality very stark. Japan had no hope of ever
defeang a economic giant of the likes of the United States.
TBD torpedo bombers aboard Enterprise
Visit our Facebook page to view many photo albums from veteran events throughout the year as well as ﬂyers for
upcoming events, charity rides, helpful informaon, and much more, at:
h#ps://www.facebook.com/AZVETCON - Be sure to “Like” us.
You may also request to have your newsle#er from your organizaon or veterans
group posted on our webpage to assure a wide disseminaon of informaon
throughout the state at: h#p://azveteransconnecon.org
You can read, download or print the monthly newsle#er published by the
Department of Veterans’ Services, as well as the VVA of Arizona quarterly
newsle#er posted on our webpage. Contact us at: azvetcon@gmail.com
Page 18
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Upcoming Event Schedule
50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War
Commemorave Celebraon
2125 S. Industrial Park Ave, Tempe, AZ
March 20, 21, 22, 2015
Honoring Vietnam and Vietnam Era Veterans
Friday, March 20, 2015
No host cocktails 6:00 to 6:45 pm, dinner 7:00 pm followed by
Ceremony
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Acvies start at 10:00 am – 10 pm
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Breakfast at 9:00 am – 11:00 am
For more informaon contact: Mike Ferguson – usmcmike2@msn.com or 480-390-5638
Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemorave Celebraon Charity
Ride - Sponsored by American Legion Post 2
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Chester’s Harley Davidson, 922 S. Country Club Dr, Mesa
8:00 am – 10:00 am. Fee - $290 single/$25 double
Stops: VFW Post 7968, American Legion Post 58, DAV ScoGsdale, American Legion Post 5
Final Stop: American Legion Post 2
Patrioc Gala
The ninth annual Patrioc Gala will take place at 5:30 p.m.
March 21 at the Chaparral Suites in ScoGsdale. This gala is sponsored by the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society and will be
honoring some of Arizona's ﬁnest patriots and veteran and student scholars. The 2015 honorees are Copper Sword, Mr. Jim
Click; Copper Eagle, the Pat Tillman Foundaon and Rutherford
Div. Industries; Copper Shield, Rep. Sonny Borelli; Copper Star,
Mayor Jack Hakim of Bullhead City and Mayor Greg Stanton of
Phoenix. Scholarships will be given to veterans and the Veterans
Heritage Project. The veterans to be honored are Erik Torres,
U.S. Army, Joe Schiavo, U.S. Air Force, and Harry Good, U.S. Army.
Veterans Heritage Project student scholarships will go to
Michelle Hugo and Lizzy Satran of Cactus Shadows High School
in Cave Creek and Amani Kassisich of Campo Verde High School
in Gilbert. Registraon and sponsorship informaon can be
found at www.avhof.org or from Kathy Laurier at 602-909-2121.
Stand up for STANDDOWN
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Chopper John’s
2547 E. Indian School Rd
Bike Show, R&R Fashion Show
2 stage Concert 12 pm – 2 pm
Salute A Soldier 5K Run will take place March 21 at Freestone
Park, 1045 E. Juniper, Gilbert. Cost is $40 for 5K or $25 for onemile walk. Visit www.AZheroestohometowns.org for addional
informaon. You may contact Kathy Pearce for more details:
480-330-1632.
Annual Memorial for our Fallen – March 22 & 23, Phoenix
March 22, 2015,11:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Warriors Gourd Dance
Grant Park, South 2nd Avenue (between Grant & Sherman St. -
across from Post 41), Phoenix ,POC - Wilfred Jeans 480-2632444 WJeansPhxAZ@yahoo.com
5:30 p.m. - Evening Recepon/Dinner/Candlelight Vigil DINNER
RSVP - Julia Barsell 602-672-2760 cielo1jb@gmail.com
Thunderbird American Legion Post 41, 715 South 2nd Avenue,
Phoenix
March 23, 2015,6:30 a.m. - Sunrise Service @ Piestewa Peak
Apache Ramada, Phoenix
HONOR/COLOR GUARD POC – Josie Kakar-Delsi 520-705-8178
kakar_delsi@cgmailbox.com
Direcons: Piestewa Freeway/AZ 51, exit Glendale Avenue east
(which becomes Lincoln Drive) turn North on Squaw Peak Drive
and travel one mile to Apache Ramada
Manufacturing Job Fair
March 30, 2015 from 11 am - 2 pm Mesa Community College
along with Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Instute will host
Manufacturing Job Fair.
Phoenix MarrioG Mesa Hotel & Convenon Center
200 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201
For more informaon contact us at 480-461-7749 or via email:
azami@mesacc.edu
Military/Veteran Women Commemoraon
April 18, 2015, 10 am – 2 pm
Glendale Community College
Student Union 104 D/E
Join us to salute our Military/Veteran women who have served,
are currently serving or have fallen with honor in service to this
country.
Chris Spicer, our Veteran Advocate and creator of the event, is
looking for photos of women veterans, in uniform, to use for a
display during the event. These photos can be of yourselves
and/or friends and family members.
Please send the photos directly to Chris
at: william.spicer@gccaz.edu
The Arizona Chapter of the Military Oﬃcers Associaon of
America will be having a spring golf tournament at 8 a.m. April
23 at Stonecreek Golf Club, 4435 E. Paradise Valley Parkway
South in Phoenix. The cost of only $70 includes a buﬀet lunch
and beneﬁts the group’s scholarship fund helping graduang
ROTC seniors aGend college. Details: 480-661-5204 or patrickdale1@cox.net for all informaon, including whole sponsorship.
Arizona Heritage Project
Save the date for the book signing and recepon of the Class of
2015 of the Arizona Heritage Project from 3 to 6 p.m. April 19 at
Arizona State University West, 4701 West Thunderbird Road,
Glendale.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA VETERANS’ MEMORIAL CEMETERYSIERRA VISTA (SAVMC)
March 28th at 12:00 p.m. is the next Missing in America Project
(MIAP) veteran recovery mission. Several unclaimed veterans
will be interned at the SAVMC. The MIAP moGo is “Never ForgoGen”.
May 2nd at 10:00 a.m. is the Hospice Valor annual BuGerﬂy release and celebraon of life ceremony.
May 25th at 6:00 p.m. is our annual Memorial Day Observance
ceremony.
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Page 19
Upcoming Event Schedule
23nd Annual Arizona Military Women’s Luncheon
May 16, 2015, 10:00 am – 2 :00 pm
VA Medical Center, 7th Street and Indian School Rd, Phoenix
Registraon Deadline May 1st, 2015 – Cost: $20
Contact: Linda – 480-833-9680
Fulkers6@hotmail.com
Honor the U.S. Military and Veterans
Arizona Celebrates Armed Forces Day during the Flagstaﬀ
“Armed Forces Day Parade”
In historic downtown Flagstaﬀ, Saturday, May 16th, 2015 at
11:00 am
For Armed Forces Day observance informaon contact:
928-286-7446
Registraon of your parade entry is easy, simply RSVP: ﬂagstaﬀafd@gmail.com
6th Naonal Armed Forces Freedom Ride Arizona
May 16th, 2015 Armed Forces Day
Starng at American Legion Post 2, 2125 S. Industrial Park Ave,
Tempe
Registraon 8:00 to 10:00, $25 solo $35 two and up
Breakfast and lunch included
Opening ceremonies at 9:00 am
Ride stops: Post 133 – Casa Grande, Post 9 in Florence.
For more informaon: azfreedomride.webs.com
Anthem Memorial Day Ceremony at Anthem Veterans Memorial: Public Invited to "A Day of Remembrance," May 25, 2015, 10
a.m. Anthem, Ariz. The public is invited to the Anthem Veterans
Memorial for the annual Memorial Day ceremony, Monday May
25, 10 a.m. The ceremony, "A Day of Remembrance," honors the
service and sacriﬁce of veterans who have fallen while serving
this Great Naon. The annual ceremony takes place at the Anthem Veterans Memorial in the Anthem Community Park, 41703
N. Gavilan Peak Parkway
AUSA Annual Awards Luncheon & Corporate Sponsor
Appreciaon
The Arizona Territorial Chapter of the Associaon of the United
States Army will conduct its Annual Awards Luncheon to recognize outstanding ROTC cadets, soldiers and Corporate Sponsors
on 29 March, 2015 at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club, 7505 East
McCormick Parkway, ScoGsdale, AZ 85258. The program will
commence at 11:15. Major General (Ret) Jon Miller, former
Deputy Chief of the Army Reserve, will be the speaker. The cost
of the Cordon Bleu meal will be $30.00. To sign up, go to:
hGp://www.ausaaz.org or contact Gene Rafanelli at (480) 2728302.
9th Annual Salt River Veterans Recognion POW - WOW
March 27 - 29, 2015
Salt River Pima - Maricopa Indian Community, AZ
All Acve Duty, Naonal Guard, reserve Personnel, Families of
Veterans Organizaons, Veterans and those that support Veterans are welcome to parcipate and/or aGend.
Friday Evening, March 27
Odham/Pipaash Social, Chlyer (Bird) Singing and Dance Contest
at the Salt River BaGleﬁeld.
Saturday Morning, March 28
Veterans Recognion Parade
SR Two Waters Complex to SR Community Building
Saturday, March 27 - Sunday, March, 29
SRPMIC Veterans Recognion Pow - Wow, Salt River BaGleﬁeld
Parade info: RedMountainRiders@yahoo.com
The Traveling Vietnam Wall
March 19 - March 22, 2015
PrescoG Gateway Mall, 3250 Gateway Blvd., PrescoG, AZ 86303
The Traveling Vietnam Wall, an 80% scaled tribute to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., features the
names of each man and women who paid the ulmate price for
their country.
Women Vets in Style
Make Over Day and Women Veteran Resources & services
April 11th, 2015. 10 am - 3 pm
Elks Lodge, 5525 W. Colter St, Glendale, AZ 85301
Hair cuts & make up by Phoenix Paul Mitchell Beauty School
Lunch provide by Phoenix West Elks Lady Auxiliary
For more info contact: Lori Cooper - 602-367-3541
RSVP by April 1, 2015
Missing in America Project
March 25, 2015, 1 pm, at the Naonal Memorial Cemetery of
Arizona
23029 N. Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85024
5 forgoGen and unclaimed American Veterans from Hanson’s
Funeral Home , Phx, AZ .These veterans served our country in
WWL, WWLL, Korea and Vietnam. There will be a full escort of
the remains with ﬂags ﬂying, from the funeral home to the Naonal Cemetery.
Honoring The 19 Marines lost on April, 2000
15th Anniversary Memorial Service
April 4, 2015 - 10 am
Marana Regional Airport
Sacriﬁce for Freedom Ride
Saturday, March 21, 2015
$20 per bike/$10 passenger. Registraon 8 - 10 am
RSVP - 480-400-9349 or events@owhaz.org
Hosted by AZ Wall Project
The Daughters of the American Revoluon (Paradise Valley
Chapter) and the Sons of the American Revoluon (Barry Goldwater Chapter) invites you to join us as we honor those who
served America during the Vietnam conﬂict.
Please show your support for those who served, those who perished and those sll unaccounted for POW's, MIA's and families
of these veterans.
Free to aGend and refreshments will be provided, Saturday,
April 25th from 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Please RSVP with the bartender on duty - 602-971-9982
Page 20
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Countdown to Victory: Marking the 70th Anniversary of the
End of the Most Destrucve War in Human History
By Herb Zinn
For historians and veterans alike, 2015 promises to be momentous: it commemorates the 70th anniversary of the ﬁnal Allied
victory over the Axis powers in World War II. The anniversary of
VE Day occurs in May, followed by the close of hoslies in the
Paciﬁc with Japan's uncondional surrender aboard the U.S.S.
Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. World War II veterans are for the most part in their 90's now. They are a Naonal
Treasure that sadly passes from our grasp every day. Veterans'
honor ﬂights to the Naonal World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. will abound this year as will naon-wide commemoraons of the close of World War II. It's enrely beﬁIng, then,
that Arizona Veterans Connecon traces for its readers the
events leading up to the ulmate victory, with an overview spotlighng the victories and sacriﬁces of our World War II veterans
seventy years ago. Each edion of the magazine through September 2015 will survey and commemorate the Allied gains leading to the close of the Second World War.
To kick things oﬀ, let's recap some of the more signiﬁcant Allied
successes in 1944 that set the stage for ﬁnal victory. 1944 was
the year of the heralded Allied counteroﬀensive on all fronts:
Northern, Western and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, the
Paciﬁc and China-Burma-India Theaters. Massive onslaughts saw
the Soviets recapture large areas of German-occupied territories
conquered through 1943, as the Russians ramped up for their
Winter Oﬀensive in early 1945; the much-awaited second front
was openned in Europe with the Allied landings in Normandy on
June 6; German resistance at Casino in Italy ﬁnally crumbled, the
Anzio pocket was breached and American armies drove north on
Rome, which fell on June 4, opening the path to further drives
into Northern Italy, Hitler's "so:" underbelly; Allied strategic
bombing campaigns against targets in Germany were resumed
now that the Normandy landings were an assured success; in the
Paciﬁc, MacArthur won his bid to advance on the Japanese home
islands via the Philippines, in contrast to Nimitz’s preferred route
through the Central Paciﬁc; the Japanese were dealt a crippling
blow at the hands of American naval and ground forces in the
Marianas (Saipan-Tinian-Guam), paving the way for B-29 strikes
at the Japanese homeland; Anglo-American forces in India connued the long, hard push to drive the Japanese from Burma, thereby releasing Japan's stranglehold over supply routes into southern and central China; MacArthur kept his promise to the Filipino
people by returning to the Philippines via Leyte in October, 1944,
where the U.S. Navy inﬂicts mortal wounds on the Imperial Japanese Navy, marking the last capital ship surface engagement of
the war -- and any conﬂict that follows. Of course, there were
setbacks: Montgomery’s bid for ﬁnal victory over Germany before Christmas via his Market-Garden assault in Holland was not
realized; and the Germans once again deprived the Allies of a
clean slate of victories with their surprise oﬀensive in the Belgian
Ardennes, forcing a slowdown in Allied easterly advances as
PaGon’s Third Army turned north to pinch oﬀ the German Bulge
from the south; in September, the First Marine Division was nearly decimated at Peleliu in the Palau Islands as Japan iniates a
new defense tacc -- digging in, in preference to Banzai charges;
and the American Navy got its ﬁrst taste of Japanese fanacism
as the Kamikaze aGacks began oﬀ Leyte. 1945 would see the connued progression of these strategies and events as the Allies on
all fronts strove to put an end to Fascist aggression that had
gripped much of the world since the 1930’s.
1945 starts oﬀ with one more surprise for the western Allies:
Operaon BodenplaGe (Baseplate). Early on the morning of January 1, more than 300 Lu:waﬀe ﬁghters strike out at American
and Brish airﬁelds in Holland, Belgium and France in a last bid to
challenge Allied air supremacy, thereby relieving the pressure on
German ground forces. Although the surprise is near-complete,
the outcome fails to measure up to German goals; and like the
Ardennes Oﬀensive in December, 1944, the operaon amounts
to a squandering of precious assets and resources and pilots that
might have otherwise been employed to draw out the war and
hence the Germans’ opportunity for negoated peace instead of
uncondional surrender. This last German gasp causes a momentary slowing of the Allied counteroﬀensive in Belgium which
quickly resumes as the Brish in the north and the Americans in
the south and west move to pinch oﬀ the remaining German
forces in the Bulge salient. Once the lines were reestablished and
stabilized, Brish and American ground forces resume their drive
to cross into the German heartland. The American First Army
retakes the vital crossroads at St. Vith, site of ﬁerce American
resistance in December, and on January 16, Brish forces make
gains at Roermond and Geilenkirchen, east of the Maas River.
Farther south, Free French forces push into the Alsace region and
another German oﬀensive, this me in the Saar Basin, is halted.
Resistance sﬀens, though, as the western Allies approach the
German border.
In the East, the Soviet winter oﬀense goes into high gear. Russian
forces push into Warsaw and Krakow, and the First Ukrainian
Army breaches German defenses on the Vistula River as it moves
across the Polish froner, with Warsaw – under siege since the
summer of 1944 -- being liberated on January 17. The Second
White Russian Army pushes north of Warsaw across the Narew
River, liberang Makaw, Ciechenow, Pultusk along the way. Budapest in Hungry is liberated, as well. German forces retreat
from Tilsit in East Prussia, blowing bridges behind them as the
Third White Russian Army seeks to ford the Nieman River on January 20. Russian forces move into the coal-rich Silesian region on
January 24, opening up the Dabrowa industrial region to Soviet
occupaon. Oppeln in Silesia falls to the Soviets on January 24.
Memel, a valuable deep water port in Lithuania, falls on January
28, aﬀording the Soviets enhanced routes of supply. The port
had been in German hands since 1939.
In Italy, going remains slow as winter weather and rough terrain
combine to impair Allied assaults in the Bologna area.
Meanwhile, in the Paciﬁc, American Sixth Army infantry under
the command of Walter Kruger land in Lingayen Gulf on Luzon in
the Philippines on January 9 and begin the push south on Manila.
Clark Field falls to the Americans on January 25, marking the halfway point to the Filipino capitol city. Thirteenth Army Air Force
units begin so:ening up Japanese defenses in Manila Bay with
aGacks on Cavite, the former U.S. Navy base. On January 30, a
daring raid by Army Rangers liberates 500 American survivors of
the Bataan Death March from Cabanatuan Prison Camp. In Burma, the Ledo-Burma Road, over 1,000 miles in length, is reopened on January 22, a:er two and one-half years under Japanese blockade, freeing up the key route of supply into central
China and Kunming, the provisional seat of the Naonalist Chinese government. In “Vinegar Joe” Slwell’s honor, the Road is
renamed and bears his name.
Arizona Veterans Connecon
February, 1945 sees the connuaon of January’s developments
in Eastern and Central Europe. The Soviet Winter Campaign
connues its sweep across Silesia and Poland as Marshal Zhukoﬀ's First White Russian Army reaches the Oder River at Kuestrin and Frankfurt, approximately 30 miles from Berlin’s outskirts. The Russians pierce German defenses and reach the Bay
of Danzig, cuIng oﬀ sizable German forces on the Samland Peninsula. Soviet posions are strengthened in the Dabrowa industrial region of Silesia in preparaon for the ﬁnal push across Germany and the link up with the western Allies.
The U.S. Ninth Infantry Division seizes the Ruhrberg Dam across
the Roer River, denying the Germans the opportunity to ﬂood
lowlands below the Dam in order to slow the Allied advance.
However, the Schwammenuel Dam east of Schmidt on the German Siegfried Line is destroyed, temporarily halng the First
Army’s progress into Germany. Brish, Canadian and American
ground forces connue to push German troops from Holland
and cross the Roer River on February 26, along a 25-mile front
that spans the River’s eastern bank. The path is now cleared for
the Rhine River crossing as Allied troops reach that River’s western banks. American Army Air Force strategic bombardment of
German transportaon assets and fuel reserves connue, with
the addional stated goal of drawing remaining Lu:waﬀe units
into combat so they can be overwhelmed and destroyed by long
-range P-51 Mustang ﬁghter escorts, now available to the 8th
and 15th Air Forces in abundant numbers. Once their daily escort dues are complete, the long-legged Mustangs are freed to
drop to tree-top level where they strafe anything that moves.
RAF Bomber Command connues its near-nightly raids against
German cies, making the air assault non-stop round the clock in
nature.
The U.S. Fi:h Army and its Tenth Mountain Division connue
slow advances up the Italian boot toward Bologna.
On February 4 through 11, Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin meet
at Czar Nicholas II’s Crimean Summer Palace in Yalta to address
the conclusion of the war against Germany and the steps to be
Page 21
taken a:er hoslies cease. Roosevelt returns home via a side
trip to the Middle East to meet with Egypt’s King Farouk and
Ethiopia’s Haile Selassie.
In the Paciﬁc Theater, B-29’s raid Singapore, bagging among other targets a valuable dry-dock le: behind by the Brish when the
island fortress fell in 1942. Further east, the 5th Army Air Force
sweeps over the Luzon Central Plain clearing a path for MacArthur’s forces to advance on Manila, which is liberated on February 4th and 5th by elements of the 1st Cavalry Division. In the
process, internees in the Santo Thomas Camp and Bilibid Prison
are freed – some 5,000 capves in total. On February 16, American paratroops descend on Corregidor a:er the island is
so:ened up by B-24 bombardment. Two weeks later, the island
is declared secure. Fierce urban combat characterizes the struggle to liberate Manila which connues as late as February 26.
On February 16 and 17, an American Fi:h Fleet fast carrier task
force -- made up of as many as twenty aircra: carriers -- stands
oﬀ the Japanese home islands as, for the ﬁrst me, 1,200 carrier
-based bombers and ﬁghters strike at Tokyo. The great B-29
strategic bomber campaign against Japanese installaons and
the Japanese home islands reaches staggering proporons, as
India-based B-29 bombers strike at supply depots in Rangoon
Harbor and a ﬁre raid on Tokyo on February 25 by 200 Marianabased B-29s ﬂying at low level destroy 240 city blocks of the Japanese capital.
On February 19, the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions assault the
black sand beaches of Iwo Jima under the command of General
Holland Smith, following a 48-hour naval bombardment. Mt.
Suribachi is declared secure four days later. U.S. forces are now
within 750 miles of Tokyo.
The end is just over the horizon, but sadly a great number of
Allied troops are yet to be killed or wounded before victory is
achieved. In the next edion of Arizona Veterans Connecon,
we’ll track the progress toward war’s end in March and April,
1945.
Photo below: Russian Advances January through February 1945
Top right: Marines Landing on Iwo Jima
Boom right: Ft. Sanago Gate, Manila
Watermark Photo: It was an impromptu moment that gave rise to one of the 20th century's
most iconic photographs. As a jubilant US sailor heard that the Second World War had ended, he
grabbed a passing nurse for a celebratory kiss in New York's Times Square on VJ Day, that has
since been seen by millions around the globe.
Page 22
Arizona Veterans Connecon
COME JOIN US
...to serve on the
Phoenix Veterans Mental Health
Advocacy Council
WHY:
WHO:
Advisory Group to Mental Health
Build Consensus
Provide Feedback
Increase Awareness
Veterans Receiving Mental Health Services
Veterans’ Family Members
Veteran’ Service Organizaons
Community Mental Health Agencies
When:
Become a Patriot Guard Rider
We are patriots who join together to Honor Fallen
Heroes and support their families.
“The Patriot Guard Riders” is a 100% Volunteer,
Federally registered 501(c) 3 non-proﬁt organizaon
which ensures dignity and respect at memorial services
honoring Fallen Military Heroes, First Responders and
Honorably Discharged Veterans. We don’t care what
you ride or if you ride, what polical views are, or
whether you’re from or what your income is; you don’t
even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.
“Joining” means you are added to our email list for
noﬁcaon of upcoming missions.
Just follow this link and register
h#ps://www.patriotguard.org/content.php
First Wednesday of every month from 1 - 2:30 p.m. in Bldg. 21
Room 108
Contact: Geoff Davis, 602-469-7154
or Danny Scalf, 602-309-5688
Facebook contact: www.facebook.com/groups/PHX.VMHAC
Phoenix VA Mental Health Advocacy Council
vmhcphx@gmail.com
The Women's Memorial is a unique, living memorial honoring all military
women—past, present and future—and is the only major naonal memorial honoring women who have served in our naon's defense during all
eras and in all services.
Their Mission
"Let the generaons know that the women in uniform also guaranteed
their freedom." —Anne S. (Sosh) Brehm 1LT, USA NC, World War II
The Women In Military Service For America Memorial, at the Ceremonial
Entrance to Arlington Naonal Cemetery, is the only major naonal memorial honoring all women who have defended America throughout history. Their patriosm and bravery are a part of our naon's heritage and
are now recognized.
Visitors to the Women's Memorial experience the collecve history of
women in the military along with the individual stories of registered servicewomen. The Women's Memorial:
recognizes all women who have served in or with the United States
Armed Forces—past, present and future; documents the experiences of
these women and tells their stories of service, sacriﬁce and achievement;
makes their contribuons a visible part of our history; illustrates their
partnership with men in defense of our naon; and serves as inspiraon
for others.
The Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundaon is a 501
(c)(3) non-proﬁt, charitable organizaon that depends on the donaons
of individuals, corporaons, organizaons, and state and local governments to equip and maintain the Educaon Center, theater and exhibit
areas, expand the permanent arfact collecon, and connue to locate
and register eligible women.
History
Honoring Military Women — Past, Present and Future.
.
Duty, Honor, Pride; these words reﬂect the spirit of generaons of
Americans who have sought to defend the rights and freedom of others.
At the Women In Military Service For America Memorial, these words
come to life in the stories and memories of the nearly two million women who have served in defense of our naon. The Women In Military
Service For America Memorial Foundaon, Inc., the non-proﬁt organizaon established to build the Memorial, connues to raise the funds
needed to operate and maintain the Memorial Educaon Center. Led by
rered Air Force Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, the Foundaon
broke ground on June 22, 1995, for the only major naonal memorial in
our naon's history to honor and pay tribute to all servicewomen of the
United States Armed Forces—past, present and future. Dedicaon was
October 18, 1997. The Women's Memorial oﬃcially opened to the public on October 20, 1997.
The history of women in the armed forces began more than 220 years
ago with the women who served during the American Revoluon and
connues through the present day. The Women's Memorial honors all
the women who have served courageously, selﬂessly and with dedicaon in mes of conﬂict and in mes of peace—women whose achievements have for too long been unrecognized or ignored.
DONATIONS AND REGISTRATIONS: Donaons and registraons of servicewomen can be sent to: Women In Military Service For America
Memorial, Dept. 560, Washington, DC, 20042-0560.
.
Telephone: 800-222-2294 or 703-533-1155. FAX: 703-931-4208
.
E-mail: hq@womensmemorial.org.
.
Web sitewww.womensmemorial.org. The Foundaon is a registered
parcipant in the Combined Federal Campaign, the annual workplace
fund raising drive conducted by the US government for all military, civilian agency and postal workers worldwide and the Naonal Capital Area
United Way Campaign. In state and corporate campaigns, donors may
designate "Women In Military Service Memorial Foundaon" on their
pledge cards.
Arizona Veterans Connecon
Page 23
Announcements:
WAVES Naonal has unanimously voted to change its organizaon’s name to Military Women Across the Naon, or MWAN,
which will allow the group to invite women veterans from all service branches to join as full members no ma%er how long they
have served or when they served. For more informaon, contact
Lou Ann Huskisson at 623-972-7369, 623-826-6614 or
azhuskisson@cox.net
Resources
Two beneﬁts you should know: First, have “Veteran” listed on
your driver’s license. Take your DD214 with you and visit any driver licensing oﬃce and have the label applied so that you can receive discounts. Second, ask at any businesses you patronize if
they oﬀer discounts to veterans. Many do not adverse discounts, but if you ask, you might receive.
Arizona Department of Veterans' Services
Serving Arizona’s Veterans and their families by providing informaon and assistance in securing their righJul beneﬁts as provided for by state and federal law.
h%ps://dvs.az.gov/
3333 North Central Avenue, Suite 1052 Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602-627-3261 Fax: 602-627-3275
Veterans Employment and Training Service
VETS serves Veterans & Service Members; and provide resources
and experse to assist and prepare them to obtain meaningful
careers, maximize their employment opportunies, and protect
their employment Rights.
(VETS); h%p://www.dol.gov/vets/
DVET Michael Espinosa; espinosa.michael@dol.gov ;
Phone: (602) 542-2515
VPA DeeAnna Bra%on; bra%on.deeanna@dol.gov ;
For those of you who have been supporng StandDowns for
homeless and needy veterans through the Fry’s Community RePhone: (602) 542-2516
wards program, you must re-enroll for the new ﬁscal year, which ADVET Jesus Arrieta; arrieta.jesus.a@dol.gov ;
started Aug. 1. All you have to do to support Arizona StandDown Phone: (602) 542-2515 Fax: (602) 542-4103
is to shop at Fry’s Food Stores, and enroll in the program. Direc1400 West Washington Street, Suite 123
ons to re-enroll are at the Fry’s website: frysfood.com.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
The Oﬃcial Beneﬁts website of the U.S. government;
Amazon has come up with an easy way to help veterans when
they shop online. Simply go to smile.amazon.com any me to buy Beneﬁts.gov (formerly GovBeneﬁts.gov) was launched in an eﬀort
something. Your ﬁrst me, you will be prompted to log in to your to provide cizens with easy, online access to government beneﬁt
Amazon account and select the charity you want to support. For and assistance programs.
eligible purchases of AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundaon h%p://www.beneﬁts.gov/
will donate 0.5 percent of the purchase to the Arizona Coalion
to End Homelessness, which is the charity that includes Arizona
U.S. federal government website for informaon on disability
StandDown for homeless veterans.
programs and services naonwide;
Disability.gov, the U.S. federal government website for inforMany “Tricare for Life” beneﬁciaries have probably used their
two courtesy ﬁlls at a retail pharmacy by now. Dr. George Jones, maon on disability programs and services naonwide.
h%ps://www.disability.gov/
Chief of the Defense Health Agency Pharmacy Operaons Division, reminds them that if they try to ﬁll again at a retail pharmaTRICARE health care program for service members (acve, Guard/
cy they may have to pay the full cost out of pocket.
Switching prescripons from a retail pharmacy to home delivery Reserve, rered) and their families;
h%p://www.tricare.mil/ (1-877-988-9378)
can save beneﬁciaries as much as $152 a year for each prescripon they move. To switch a prescripon call Express Scripts, the Military Service and Social Security
Tricare pharmacy contractor, at 1-877-882-3335. You may also
www.socialsecurity.gov or call toll-free, (1-800-772-1213)
visit www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE , ask your providers to
For the deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY number:
electronically prescribe directly to "Express Scripts Mail Pharma1-800-325-0778.
cy" or mail in a registraon form and hard copy of your prescripIf you became disabled while on acve military service on or aSer
on. Beneﬁciaries who want to use a military pharmacy should
ﬁrst call their local military pharmacy to make sure their prescrip- October 1, 2001, visit wounded warriors to ﬁnd out how you can
receive expedited processing of your disability claim.
on is available. For more details visit www.tricare.mil/Jlpilot .
Naonal Contact Center; If you have a queson about federal
agencies, programs, beneﬁts, or services
h%p://www.usa.gov/ 1-800-FED-INFO (333-4636)
Women Veterans Hotline
1-855-VA-WOMEN (829-6636)
Naonal Cemetery Administraon
Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV)
NCA honors Veterans and their families with ﬁnal resng places in
1-877-345-8179 (or) 1-888-820-1756
naonal shrines and with lasng tributes that commemorate
their service and sacriﬁce to our Naon.
Foreign Medical Program (FMP) Spina Biﬁda Health Care Program
h%p://www.cem.va.gov/
Educaon (GI Bill) 1-877-222-8387
U.S. Department of Veterans Aﬀairs;
Help for Homeless Veterans;
h%p://www.va.gov/
h%p://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ 1-877-4AID-VET 1 (877)424Beneﬁts: 1-800-827-1000
3838.
Health Care: 1-877-222-VETS (8387)
Combat Call Center
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 Press 1
1-877-WAR-VETS (877-927-8387)
The U.S. Military Rered Handbook is a handy tool for all veterans
and can be found at the following hyperlink:
h%p://contentz.mkt6426.com/
lp/19265/95558/2014_U.S._Military_Rered_0.pdf
Arizona Veterans Connecon