August 2007 - Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1919

YOUR NEXT PURPLE HEART EVENT DATES
VOL PATRIOT
8-1—AUGUST
2007
BULLETIN
4 AUG — 11 AM, “PURPLE HEART DAY,” MUSEUM AT CAMP MABRY, MOPAC & 35th
6 AUG — 6:30 AM, “BREAKFAST AT JIMS,” HWY 183 AT BURNET RD
PATRIOT BULLETIN
THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART OF THE U.S.A.
TEXAS CAPITAL CHAPTER 1919
3 SEP
— 6:30 AM, “BREAKFAST AT JIMS,” HWY 183 AT BURNET RD
AUGUST
...COME CELEBRATE THE PURPLE HEART’S 225th ANNIVERSARY …
PURPLE HEART DAY
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4th, STARTING AT 11 AM
IN THE CAMP MABRY MUSEUM (Bldg # 6)
(YES, WE KNOW THE PURPLE HEART WAS REALLY CREATED ON
AUG 7TH, BUT OUR OBSERVANCE IS ON THE 4TH, SO AS NOT TO
INTERFERE WITH THE NATIONAL CONVENTION)
CHAPTER 1919 CELEBRATES PURPLE
HEART DAY AND WE DO IT UP RIGHT —
SERVING A CATERED BARBECUE LUNCH—
FREE FOR MEMBERS, FAMILY AND GUESTS.
GUEST SPEAKER, SAM LUNA, WILL INTRODUCE
“VETERANS JOURNEY HOME,” A UNIQUE WEEKEND
PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP COMBAT VETERANS.
HE HAS WEEKENDS PLANNED IN SEPTEMBER AND
DECEMBER — COME AND HEAR HIM.
SAMUEL LUNA
THE ENTRANCE TO CAMP MABRY IS WEST OF MOPAC ON 35TH STREET
AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE INSTALLATION. COME PREPARED
TO SHOW PICTURE ID (DRIVERS LICENSE OR MILITARY) AT THE GUARD
POST AS YOU ENTER.
...This Month’s “Patriot Story” Feature...
JOSEPH LEVINSON
JOE IS ONE OF A VERY FEW AMONG THE MORE THAN
700 MEMBERS, PAST AND PRESENT, OF CHAPTER 1919
WHO SERVED IN WW II, KOREA AND VIETNAM. BUT,
ONLY HE AND BOB DALTON, THAT WE KNOW OF, HAVE
SEEN COMBAT IN ALL THREE WARS. FROM ATTACKING
A GERMAN U-BOAT IN WW II, TO FLYING AN L-19 AND
DIRECTING ARTILLERY IN KOREA, TO FLYING ATTACK
HELICOPTER MISSIONS IN VIETNAM — JOE LEVINSON
DID IT ALL, READ HIS AMAZING STORY IN THIS ISSUE OF
PATRIOT BULLETIN, STARTING ON PAGE 8.
INSIDE:
LEADER BOARD
2-3
NEW MEMBERS
4
ADJUTANTS CALL
5
NEWS / FEATURE / PHOTOS
4 - 12
BIRTHDAYS / BOOSTERS
12 - 13
TRIBUTES / TAPS
14 - 15
CHAPTER CALENDAR
16
Page 2
PATRIOT BULLETIN
Chapter Notes
…., WE HAVE HAD
A LOT GOING ON
SINCE THE LAST
NEWSLETTER.
READ ABOUT IT IN
THIS ISSUE, BUT
SEE WHAT’S
NEXT…...
COMMANDER’S MESSAGE
I
can’t believe that summer is almost over. In a
couple of weeks the kids and grandkids will be
starting back to school again. Hopefully, everyone
has had a good and safe summer.
namely John Burkhardt, Les Allen, Joe Hartness,
Fred Rey, Milt Carr, and of course the Ladies of our
Auxiliary Unit.
On Tuesday, July 3rd, between 10AM and 2PM,
Chapter 1919 had a table set up outside the Wal-Mart
on IH35 at Slaughter Lane. Wal-Mart invited all
veterans’ organizations to set up there and show their
spirit for the 4th of July. They provided a lunch for all
veterans that attended the event. Wal-Mart says this
was just their first time for what is going to be an
annual event from now on. We did some recruiting
and gave out literature about what MOPH does.
Thanks to the following patriots who helped out
manning our table — John Burkhardt, James L.
Brown, Fred Rey, and Armando Ybarra.
We had a good turnout for the chapter picnic at
A memorial is being constructed on the grounds of the
Camp Mabry, the weather was perfect and we had
Capitol to honor all the Texas servicemen and women
the best attendance that we have seen in recent years.
who fought, served and made the supreme sacrifice in
The food was really great — thanks to the chef
WWII. It will be located on the northwest corner of
Howard McKinney. Patriot Joe Levinson came
the Capitol grounds. The dedication is set for 10AM,
and brought a box-full of DVD’s of a television
Wednesday, August 15, 2007.
news feature from early in the
FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT ATTEND
Vietnam war, narrated by Chet
THE PICNIC, JOE LEVINSON STILL HAS Our next big event is our Purple
Huntley, that included footage
DVD’s WITH THAT 1964 VINTAGE Heart Day celebration, August
of Joe and his helicopter
REPORT ON VIETNAM “IT’S A MAD WAR”
4th starting at 11AM. To those
gunships at work in 1964. That
TO GET A COPY, MAIL A DONATION TO details you read about on pg 1,
DVD is a look-back at that
OUR PURPLE HEART SCHOLARSHIP I would only add that the BBQ
place in history before U.S.
FUND, BY CHECK: PAYABLE TO: CHAPT lunch is being catered by
combat troops were deployed
1919, MOPH. SEND TO: ADJUTANT, MILT
there in large numbers. Joe was CARR, 5701 PAINTED VALLEY DRIVE, “Branch BBQ,” and that the
giving away copies, asking only AUSTIN, TX 78759 (BE GENEROUS, MAIL program of our guest speaker,
Sam Luna, deals with what a
for a donation in any amount, to AND PACKAGING IS EXPENSIVE)
combat veteran has gone
our Purple Heart Scholarship
through
because
of
his
experiences in combat.
Fund. I thank Joe for being there and thanks also to
our volunteer workers that made preparations for the
I hope to see you on Purple Heart Day.
picnic ahead of time, then came early to set up for
the event and stayed late to clean up afterward,
THE PATRIOT BULLETIN IS PUBLISHED, NORMALLY MONTHLY, BY THE TEXAS
CAPITAL CHAPTER 1919, The MILITARY ORDER of the PURPLE HEART of the U.S.A.,
Inc., 5701 PAINTED VALLEY DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS, 78759, FOR ITS MEMBERS.
TO SUBMIT MATERIAL, OR COMMENTS, OR TO REPORT CHANGES OF ADDRESS,
NOTIFY EDITOR, MILT CARR, (512) 343-7940. YOU CAN VIEW OUR NEWSLETTER
IN COLOR ON YOUR COMPUTER. GO TO WEBSITE: www.purpleheartaustin.org
Yours In Patriotism,
RAYMOND DIAZ
Commander
P A T R I O T B U L L E T IN
Page 3
Unit Notes
COMMAND AND
PRINCIPAL STAFF
CHAPTER / UNIT
….WHAT’S
NEXT IS OUR
ANNUAL
PURPLE
HEART DAY
CELEBRATION
IT’S BIG, SO
PLEASE DON’T
MISS ! ……...
this year’s National Convention
in New York during the week of
August 6th, however, Fred and
Elaine Rey plan to go, and I
have asked Elaine to give us a
full report at our next meeting.
Our next big event will be
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Purple Heart Day. We will be
celebrating on August 4th,
any Patriots and Ladies
please join us as we observe the
attended the picnic at the
225th anniversary of the
Camp Mabry Picnic Grounds on
June 9th. Everyone was treated to creation of the Purple Heart. A
delicious catered BBQ lunch
hamburgers, hotdogs, potato
salad, baked beans, chips, ice cold will be served to members,
family, and guests. This is one
sodas, and all the trimmings !
of our biggest events of the
“Thank You,” to all those ladies
year, and it’s always a lot of
who pitched in to bring items for
the food line, and/or helped set up fun. Come, enjoy good food,
everything and stayed to clean up good conversation, and each
other’s friendship.
afterward: namely, Elaine
Burkhardt, Lucille Bennett,
Blistering hot temperatures are
Elizabeth Larson, Elaine Rey,
upon us. Observe these
Ophelia Castro, Rose Castillo,
“cooling tips” to help prevent
Valerie Dye, Mary Diaz, and
heat injuries. Slow your pace,
Julie Brown.
stay indoors, drink plenty of
water, wear light color clothing,
I attended the Department of
Texas Convention in San Antonio and get plenty of rest.
May 31st—June 1st. During the
I look forward to seeing you at
election of officers, Unit 1919
our Purple Heart Day
swept away with the top two
Celebration on August 4th. Our
positions. Congratulations to
next regular meeting will be at
Elaine Rey who will serve
Camp Mabry, 10AM, Sept 15th.
another year as Department
President, and I will serve as the
Peace and Grace,
Department Senior Vice
President. Due to scheduling
Betty
conflicts I will not be attending
M
1919
OFFICERS, MOPH CHAPT 1919
NOTE: ALL AREA CODES ARE ( 512 )
COMMANDER
RAYMOND DIAZ
444-6342
SENIOR VICE COMMANDER
JOHN BURKHARDT
497-5857
JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER
JOE HARTNESS
964-1146
ADJUTANT
MILT CARR
343-7940
FINANCE OFFICER
FEDERICO REY
339-8034
SERVICE OFFICER
TONY MOORE
389-6543
PUBLIC RELATIONS
TONY GEISHAUSER
527-8495
JUDGE ADVOCATE
MARTIN L. ALLDAY, J.D.
922-7052
SURGEON
ROBERT BERNSTEIN,M.D. 345-5988
CHAPLAIN
SCOTT JOHNSON
301-7413
WELFARE OFFICER
RUFUS DYE
926-5691
SERGEANT AT ARMS
LESLIE ALLEN
892-3864
OFFICERS, LAMOPH UNIT 1919
PRESIDENT
BETTY CEPEDA
388-9083
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
JULIE BRIDGEWATER (972) 754-4393
JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT
VALERIE DYE
272-4582
SECRETARY
ELAINE REY
339-8034
TREASURER
ELAINE REY
339-8034
TRUSTEES, 3-2-1
ELIZABETH LARSON
PATSY RADEMACHER
ROSALIE CASTILLO
418-1342
327-0326
272-4582
MARSHALL
LIBBY KERR
CALL SECRETARY
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PATRIOT BULLETIN
NEW MEMBERS
Two new members have been added to the rolls of Chapter 1919 since publication of your last
PATRIOT BULLETIN. Congratulations and a warm welcome to both:
GUSTAVO E. GUERRERO is an Army Iraq veteran who has just become Chapter 1919’s
most recently wounded member. Gus was wounded August 26, 2006 on Operation Iraqi
Freedom while serving in Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.
THOMAS W. KYLE is an Army Vietnam veteran. He was wounded January 22, 1967 when
assigned to Company A, 5th Special Forces Group.
We had these added applications in process at National Headquarters at “press-time.”
WILL A. BEATTY, Marine Corps, Korea
WILLIAM VON LANGEHENNIG, Marine Corps, Iraq
KEVIN S. OXNER, Marine Corps, Iraq
...Opened in Amarillo in April…
TEXAS STATE VETERANS HOME
The latest new state Veterans Home, the seventh one
since the 1997 legislation creating this program, is the
Ussery-Roan Veterans Home that has opened its
doors in Amarillo. The facility has 120 beds, 30 of
which are certified for Alzheimer’s care in a separate
secured unit. The home will employ about 100 full
time employees, including registered nurses, licensed
vocational nurses, therapists, nurses aides, laundry
and housekeeping staff, cooks and a dietary staff. It
is intended to serve the more than 6,000 Texas
veterans, age 65 and over, in Randall and Potter
counties. Spouses of Texas veterans and Gold Star
parents are also eligible for care in Texas State
Veterans Homes. For additional information on
veterans homes and other programs for Texas
veterans, call 1-800-252-8387, or visit the Veterans
Land Board website at www.texasveterans.com.
...Japan Changes Island’s Name…
IWO JIMA
...Now Re-Named “IWO TO”…
It’s true, the Japanese Geographical Survey
Institute has returned to using the prewar
name for the island, supposedly at the urging
of the native inhabitants who wanted to
reclaim the identity that they say has been
hijacked by movies such as Clint Eastwood’s
“Letters from Iwo Jima.” Surviving
islanders evacuated during the war praised the
decision to go back to using their prewar
name for their home, but some U.S. Marine
Corps veterans expressed surprise and were
upset by the news, saying that it cheapens the
memory of a battle that today is inextricably
linked to the name Iwo Jima.
P A T R I O T B U L L E T IN
Page 5
ADJUTANTS CALL
N
ow that postage rates have gone up again, the
Purple Heart stamp will again be re-issued at
the new rate of 41 cents (for 1-oz., first-class mail).
This 41 cent Purple Heart stamp is expected to go on
sale nationwide in August. Ask for them the next
time you go out to buy stamps.
Joe Levinson does, except you replace “levinson” in
the address with your own last name. You have your
own page if your name is Allday, Bodnar, Bill
Brant, John Bryant, Carman, Manuel Castillo,
Cohen, Dalton, Daves, Denius, Dye, Forsman,
Greene, Harris, Harwood, Hufnall, Jankiewicz,
Hoyle, Klein, Lewis, McCoy, McKee, Migl, Noe,
We have a lot of distant members. Mostly, they live Morrison, Papke, Price, Spiro, Swan, Garr, Garza
in places all across Texas that are too far away from Towery, Varela, Warden, Williams, Bernstein,
any active chapter for them to attend meetings, so we Decker, Weeden, Barnes, Deeter, Diaz, O’Malley,
don’t often hear from them. Mike Tarpley is one of Geishauser, Hefford, Mann, Massaglia, McKinney
Reilly, Sellers, Ybarra, Ram Martinez, Connally,
them, but he just sent a very nice note of thanks to
PATRIOT BULLETIN, together with a clipping from Babin, Haley, Kassner, Modlin, Silva, or Tosh.
the newspaper in Snyder. Mike says he would never
have known about the Texas State law that provides
Chapter 1919’s calendar (on the back cover) now
for veterans like himself, who dropped out of high
shows all events through June 2008. Please use this
school and joined the military to fight in our nation’s projection of coming chapter events to post your
wars, to now be awarded their high school diploma. personal calendar. We squeeze a lot of dates into a
After reading our article about it, Mike called the
small printed space, so a few words on how to
Snyder High School to see if they would mail him a decipher our shorthand is in order. The first date
sheepskin. They said they would, but, offered that
appearing in each month’s block is our chapter
he could attend the school’s graduation ceremonies
breakfast meeting, that’s always on the first Monday
this spring and walk across the stage, like all the
of every month. It’s strictly informal, we gather
other graduates. So, at the urgings of his wife and
starting about 6:30AM around our back corner table
children, they drove up to Snyder, where Mike had
in the “Jim’s Restaurant” on the Highway 183
attended 12 years of public school, and received his
Northbound Access Road at Burnet Road. The next
date listed, “Staff Meeting,” is (nearly) always at
diploma from S.H.S., 41 years after his classmates.
noon on the Wednesday just prior to the regular
chapter meeting. That is where most of the chapter’s
This month’s feature article is about Patriot Joseph
business is decided — and it is open to all, it isn’t
Levinson, a combat veteran of WWII, Korea and
just for chapter officers. If you like to debate routine
Vietnam. A more colorful “Patriot Story” than his
has never before appeared in PATRIOT BULLETIN. business issues of the chapter, this is the place you
Right after this newsletter was sent to press a longer need to be. Chapter monthly meetings are intended
to provide information, inspiration, or entertainment.
version of Joe’s story, together with more
We take a chapter vote on all major issues and new
photographs, was added to all previous newsletter
initiatives, but the business agenda is held to a
feature stories that are posted on our chapter’s
website: www.purpleheartaustin.org. If you want to minimum. Our special events are, Purple Heart Day,
read more about Joe Levinson than we have space to George Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day,
Veterans Day, and the best Christmas Party in Austin
print in this newsletter, then you can go directly to
his page: www.purpleheartaustin.org/levinson.htm
Patriots, thanks for making my life more interesting
all you need is a computer that connects to the
by being a member of Chapter 1919; and I hope you
internet. If you are one of the 78 other patriots that
have had feature stories published in the newsletter, come out and help us celebrate Purple Heart Day.
then you also have your own webpage on the
—Milt Carr, Adjutant, (512) 343-7940
internet and you can go directly to it the same way
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PATRIOT BULLETIN
...Photo Record Of Our Last Big Events…
CHAPTER ANNUAL PICNIC
...Saturday Morning, June 9th, Camp Mabry Picnic Grounds...
PATRIOT HOWARD
MCKINNEY DID
THE HONORS AS
CHIEF COOK
AGAIN THIS YEAR.
THE SERVING LINE IS SET UP AND IS ABOUT TO BE ASSAULTED BY THE
LARGEST TURN-OUT FOR THE PICNIC THAT WE HAVE HAD IN RECENT
YEARS. THE TWO MEN IN UNIFORM ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE
PICTURE WERE OUR GUESTS, MEMBERS OF WEAPONS COMPANY,
23RD MARINES, MARINE CORPS RESERVE AND RECIPIENTS OF THE
PURPLE HEART FROM A RECENT DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ.
...And Our Last…
OUTBACK APPRECIATION NITE
...Monday Evening, June 6th, in the Outback Restaurant at 11600 Research Bouldvard...
THE OUTBACK SET UP
ONE LONG TABLE FOR US
AND THIS PICTURE WITH
20 GOT MOST OF THEM,
JIM BROWN, ELIZABETH
LARSON, JIM AND PATSY
FARMER, FRED AND
ELAINE REY, LUCILLE
BENNETT, STACY RILEY,
ARE AMONG THOSE
IDENTIFIED.
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PATRIOT BULLETIN
TEXAS MILITARY BASES
TO GET $1.5 BILLION
...In 2008 Federal Budget….
Although not finalized at ‘press-time,” with a few
details to be worked out between the Senate and
the House versions of the bill, the new budget is
expected to include $109.2 billion for military
construction and veterans program. That’s almost
$9 billion over last year and it reflects the
Congress’ intent to increase spending after reports
of substandard care for the nation’s service
members.
The bill has $1.5 billion for Texas Military Bases
and that includes $6.5 million for a Reserve
Training Center in Austin. There is $145.4 million
for Fort Hood, $635 million for Fort Bliss, $506.6
million for Fort Sam Houston, $51.9 million for
Lackland AFB, $15 million for Ellington Field,
$11.5 million for Randolph AFB, $9.2 million for
Red River Army Depot, $9 million for Camp
Bullis, and $1.5 million for Camp Bowie.
ROTC LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The 2007 Leadership Award for Texas State
University Air Force ROTC was presented to Cadet
Chris Heiner by Chapter Commander Raymond
Diaz. This photo came in after last month’s “final
report” (on all twenty-five school programs) was
published in PATRIOT BULLETIN, but we wanted
to show it off anyway.
...WHAT CHAPTER 1919 DOES…
AUSTIN VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC
PURPLE HEART COFFEE BAR
...MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED...
COFFEE BAR VOLUNTEERS JIM BROWN,
JOHN LINGO, AND ELIZABETH LARSON ARE
SHOWN HERE WITH EVERYTHING ALL SET
UP AND READY TO SERVE
Providing the hospital and service work needed by
the Veterans Administration was one of the purposes
that was intended for the Order when our charter
was granted by the Congress in 1958. And, that is
one of the things Chapter 1919 does. Chapter 1919
serves, free of charge, refreshments and snacks
every day the clinic is open. Our chapter volunteers
take turns in serving, annually working about 3,000
hours. Volume has inched up again this year and we
are now serving approximately 42,000 cups of
coffee, 6,000 servings of orange juice, and 19,000
snack packets annually. This project is the biggest
and best thing that we do.
Chapter Commander, Raymond Diaz, personally
manages the operation and keeps the “duty roster.”
The target that he shoots for is to maintain a work
force of 25 trained volunteers. That allows a
rotation where each volunteer works one half-day
shift once every two weeks. With the recent
retirement of some of our WWII veteran volunteers,
we have openings for five new volunteers. If you
can help, we would enthusiastically welcome you to
our staff of Coffee Bar servers. Call him anytime
and talk about it with him.
—RAYMOND DIAZ, Volunteer Coord., 343-6342
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P A T R I O T B U L L E T IN
JOE LEVINSON
Wounded: Army, Vietnam
Also Combat Veteran of Navy, WWII, & Army, Korea
Patriot, Chapter 1919
Joseph Levinson was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1924. His family moved
numerous times, but always within the city, so Joe attended a lot of different public
schools, but finally dropped out of high school and went to work. Joe volunteered
for the Navy immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Still only 17, he
got his parents permission and entered active duty in the Navy on March 3, 1942.
He went through basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station, and then was assigned
to an Antisubmarine Flying Boat Squadron. He flew many long anti-sub missions in
a PBM “Mariner” flying boat over both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, earning
his Navy Combat Air Crew Wings. During one mission when flying from a base on
Trinidad in the British West Indies, they engaged a German U-Boat that, lying
disabled on the surface, they attacked with the assistance of a B-17 bomber.
WWII
NAVY PBM “MARINER” FLYING
BOAT OF THE TYPE THAT JOE
FLEW AS A CREW MEMBER IN
WORLD WAR II
KOREA
ARMY L-19 “BIRD DOG”
ARTILLERY “SPOTTER” PLANE
TYPE PILOTED BY JOE DURING
THE KOREAN WAR
189th FIELD
ARTILLERY
BATTALION
UNIT CREST
45th INFANTRY
DIVISION
“THUNDERBIRDS”
PATCH
MAJOR JOE LEVINSON
IN VIETNAM
AFTER
KOREA,
LIEUT JOE
LEVINSON
AT FORT
RUCKER
It was not until 1946, after WWII, that Joe was
discharged and returned home to Chicago. He
worked for some time as a Printers Ink salesman and
then enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in
1949. He was quickly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant,
and from 1950 – 1951 served as aide-de-camp to
General Julius Klein. In May 1952 his unit was
called to active duty in the Korean War. Joe went
JOE IN THE NAVY WWII
through flight school and received his Army Aviator
Wings on August 23, 1952. From there he was shipped to Korea where he
was assigned as a Forward Observer in the 189th Field Artillery Battalion, 45th
Infantry Division. Joe flew an L-19 Bird Dog artillery “spotter” plane from
the 45th Infantry Division airfield and he called for and adjusted fires from
artillery units and Naval gunfire from ships operating off the east coast.
Altogether, he flew 120 missions, earning a Bronze Star and four awards of
the Air Medal before the armistice. After the Korean War he remained on
active duty as a National Guard officer and continued to serve in aviation.
Major Levinson served in Vietnam from November 29, 1963 through
November 17, 1964. He commanded the 121st Aviation Company (Air
Mobile, Light), commanded Soc Trang Army Airfield & USAF fighter base,
advised Commander, 21st ARVN Division on air mobility operations, and was
area coordinator for the southern Mekong River. However, Joe did not have
all those lofty sounding titles when he first took command of the 121st. He
grew into the job, becoming a legend and making a place for himself in the
history of Army Aviation in the process. An article in the October 1965 issue
of MAN’S MAGAZINE says it happened this way, “When Joe Levinson took
command of the 121st Aviation Company, Soc Trang was a rat-infested dump
with few facilities, a forsaken landing strip in the damp, jungle-like swamps of
the Mekong Delta near the southern tip of the country. Scrounging from
every source available, the enterprising Levinson soon got rid of the rats,
Page 9
PATRIOT BULLETIN
built three clubs for his men, a library, a hobby shop, tennis courts, and an Olympic swimming pool. The
Army and Air Force brass, knowing a good thing when they saw it, decided to use Soc Trang as the major
helicopter and fighter-bomber base in the VC-infested area south of Saigon. Soon the field was jammed with
aircraft of all types. It became the center of … efforts to clear the Mekong Delta of Communist guerrillas.”
The “Soc Trang Tigers,” as the 121st Aviation Company was called, were flying
the CH-21 Shawnee helicopter, the obsolete old “flying banana,” providing
support to the 21st Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN).
This original aviation company in Vietnam pioneered the tactics of quick
reaction airlifts and, due to their success in doing so, “Tiger 6,” Joe Levinson,
personally developed an outstanding rapport with the ARVN Division. In June
1964 the company was re-equipped with new UH-1 “Huey” helicopters.
Because the venerable old CH-21’s could lift heavier loads than the new
“Hueys,” many of the “Soc Trang Tiger” aviators were not happy to see the
change. However, in addition to the standard UH-1 “lift” aircraft, the 121st
now also had a powerful new armed helicopter platoon. Major Levinson used
this platoon of rocket and machine gun firing “gun ships” in innovative ways as
they gained experience, developing tactics that proved to be highly effective
and that were adopted as the Army’s standard from then on.
CH-21 “SHAWNEE”
HELICOPTER OF THE TYPE
FLOWN BY THE 121ST AVN
CO UNTIL JUNE 1964
UH-1B “GUN SHIP” OF THE
121ST AVIATION CO
SOC TRANG TIGERS
UNIT PATCH
SOC TRANG
INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT
WELCOME SIGN
TYPE FLOWN BY “VIKING”
Joe Levinson led an operation on November 4, 1964 that
PLATOON, 121ST AVN CO
established his place of honor in Army Aviation and that
is still talked about today among the attack helicopter pilots of that era. Late that day,
Joe was informed by the Advisor to the Province Chief, Major Hartwin Peterson
(Hart Peterson, also a member of Chapt 1919 was in the back seat of Joe’s Huey when
wounded) that elements of the enemy’s veteran First Regiment had slipped in close
and apparently were preparing to strike the airfield during the night. There were many
aircraft at Soc Trang and a mortar attack at that time could have resulted in a major
disaster. Major Levinson ordered the gun ships into the air. It was a very dark night
and there was no chance of spotting the Viet Cong force from the air, so the only hope
for disrupting attack was to bait the enemy force into revealing its position. The gun
ships followed at altitude, with lights off, and observed; as Joe, intentionally tempting
enemy fire, flew his aircraft low and slow with all navigation lights on, directly across
the threat area. They were spectacularly successful on all counts. Joe drew heavy
ground fire, dropped flares illuminating the target area and barely escaped in a badly
shot-up aircraft. The gun ship platoon struck from the darkness inflicting many
casualties as the VC fled for safety. After daylight, troops of the 21st ARVN Division
pursued the survivors inflicting further losses. Soc Trang Airfield remained safe.
Joe was wounded in Saigon on August 24, 1964 by Viet Cong small arms fire and was
treated at the 134th Medical Detachment. When he left Vietnam he had been awarded
the Legion of Merit, and among other awards, had accumulated another 13 oak leaf
clusters and a “V” device for his Air Medal. Major Levinson also received South
Vietnam’s highest combat award, the Medal of Valor with gold palm, only the eighth
such award that had been made to an American at that time in the war.
INSIGNIA OF THE
13TH AVIATION
BATTALION
HEADQUARTERED IN
CAN THO, TO WHICH
THE 121ST AVIATION
COMPANY
BELONGED
He returned to the United States to Fort Rucker, Alabama where he served as Chief of
Long Range Studies, Aviation Agency, Combat Developments Command, until his
retirement on July 31, 1967. Colonel (retired) Levinson, now living in the local area,
is a recently joined member of Chapter 1919, the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Page 10
P A T R I O T B U L L E T IN
DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS NEWS
...For Every MOPH Chapter & LAMOPH Unit…
FOR MOPH CHAPTERS:
I want to welcome everyone to the
new 2007-2008 year, thank you for a
second year as Commander for
Department of Texas. The
Department Convention was well
planned and everyone had a good
time. I would like to thank
Commander of 1836 Walter
Chadwick, Tony Roman, and Bill
Bacon. Also thanks to the great
membership and ladies of Unit 1836.
This year we will be trying to raise
our membership, Texas is the largest
department in the MOPH, but at the
rate California is signing up
members we will soon be second.
Texas has had to close 8 chapters in
the last 6 years. The reason was lack
of participation. The younger
patriots do not step up to work, as do
and did our older patriots. Some of
them do more then their fair share of
work. We need to help World War II
and Korean patriots carry the load.
The biggest problem in this
department is communications; I
need to have an e-mail for all
commanders and adjutants. Those
who do not have e-mail need to ask a
family member or friend to let them
use their e-mail. I will only use that
e-mail for fast communications. The
other problem is change of e-mail
address or phone numbers, please
unless you let me know if it’s
changed I have no other way of
knowing. Please send that e-mail
address to me; my e-mail is
[email protected]
The last item is VAVS money; if
you receive VAVS money your
chapter can take 15% of the funds to
put in your general account. The
special VAVS Grant money from
department does not allow any funds
for the chapter. Please send a letter
(no e-mails) for VAVS funds and
state that the funds are being used to
help veterans. Remember to send
your receipts (To Department
Finance Officer Raymond Diaz) or
you will not receive more funds.
—Fred Rey,
Department Commander
MOPH
PHONE NUMBERS
COMMANDER
FEDERICO REY (512) 339-8034
SENIOR VICE COMMANDER
“MARTY” MARTINEZ (254) 698-4344
JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER
JOSE MORALES (254) 224-6982
ADJUTANT
JOHN FOOTMAN (254) 699-0079
FINANCE OFFICER
RAYMOND DIAZ (512) 444-6342
SERVICE OFFICER
ROCKY HERNANDEZ (254) 628-1326
SGT-AT-ARMS
SAMUEL LUNA (281) 395-9152
JUDGE ADVOCATE
C.W.(BUD) NETTLES (936) 462-8519
INSPECTOR
WAYMON FAULKNER (817) 834-4181
WELFARE OFFICER
GEORGE MOORE (903) 587-2203
NATIONAL EXCECUTIVE COMMITTEEMAN
DELEON WESTON (915) 821-3880
ALTERNATE NAT’L EXEC COMMITTEEMAN
HARRY SMART (210) 648-4529
AMERICANISM OFFICER
RAUL CAMPBELL (210) 681-1285
CHAPLAIN
WILLIAM BEASLEY (903) 583-4323
LAMOPH
PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
ELAINE REY (512) 339-8034
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
BETTY CEPEDA (512) 278-0292
JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT
TRISH ROSIE (210) 826-8714
TREASURER
DORIS WESTON (915) 821-3880
SGT-AT-ARMS
ELIZABETH DINGMAN (254) 634-0689
TRUSTEES
1-YR, MAMIE CAMPBELL (210) 681-1285
2-YR, HELGA HERNANDEZ (254) 628-1326
3-YR, MARIAH DINGMAN (254) 526-2606
FOR AUXILIARY UNITS
The Department Convention held in
San Antonio was a success. I would
like to thank Chapter and Unit 1836
for all their hard work in making
this Convention such a success. I
thank every one for a second year as
the Department President.
We had eight units present and
twenty-four ladies in attendance at
the meeting. Jane Stoel, National
Jr. Vice President, and Carolyn
Cooper, Region V President,
attended our convention. We thank
Jane and Carolyn for taking the time
out of their busy schedule to attend
the convention. I will be sending
out the minutes of the meeting to
Department Officers and to Unit
Presidents of each Unit. Please
share the minutes with your ladies.
The brown bags were a big hit. We
had a total of 151 bags. The
prettiest bag prize goes to Unit 1952
(Nacogdoches). The most bags
prize (54 bags) goes to Unit 1836
(San Antonio). Congratulations go
out to both of these Units.
The Units in Texas are hard at work
helping our soldiers and veterans.
They are supporting the deployed
soldiers and Family Readiness
Groups. Helping a veteran’s family
avoid foreclosure on their home,
welcoming the troops home,
donating dinners at Thanksgiving
and Christmas, giving long distance
phone cards to the wounded soldiers
so that they may keep in touch with
their families, and taking magazines
to the hospitals and clinics, are just
a few of the great things the Units in
Texas are doing for our veterans.
I am asking the Unit President to
select one person as “Unit Auxiliary
Member” of the Year and submit it
to me by May 15, 2008. We are
also having a contest the Unit that is
able to get the most new members
by May 30th will get fifty dollars
for their Unit. Good Luck to each
Unit. I am planning to attend the
National Convention and hope to
see Texas well represented.
God Bless, Elaine Rey
P A T R I O T B U L L E T IN
Page 11
VA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
...Hospitalized Veterans of the USA…
Lady Lilo Saenz has been honored with the 2007
“Donor Of The Year” award by the Help Hospitalized
Veterans of the USA organization. Lilo does her
volunteer service at Olin E. Teague VA Hospital and
at the Texas State Veterans Home in Temple for our
chapter in the name of the Military Order of the
Purple Heart. Congratulations Lilo !
PATRIOT BULLETIN does not have a reproduceable
image of it, but the Citation Reads: “Donor of the
Year, 2007. On behalf of the thousands of
hospitalized veterans throughout the United States and
our overseas GI’s fighting terrorism in Iraq and
Afghanistan, the Help Hospitalized Veterans
organization hereby officially recognizes Lilo U.
Saenz of Temple, Texas for your past kindness,
thoughtfulness, constant caring, and unselfish
generosity toward worthwhile charitable causes.”
BIRTHDAYS FOR THE
LADIES AUXILIARY
We have four ladies who are celebrating this month.
Happy Birthday to each.
AUGUST
21
24
26
30
MARY VARELA
KAREN VAUGHT
MARGARET SEIDL
SOOK HEBBE
—BETTY CEPEDA, Unit President
HUMVEE or HUMMER ?
HUMVEE MOUNTING A TOW
ANTI-TANK MISSILE SYSTEM
What does HUMVEE stand for ? The two terms
overlap somewhat, but generally, HUMMER
refers to the civilian models and HUMVEE
refers to the military variations. HUMVEE
stands for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled
Vehicle. The civilian models are basically the
same as the military ones because they go down
the same assembly line until reaching the
finishing stages where the civilian models
receive the addition of nice interiors and other
creature comforts.
PATRIOT BULLETIN
ON THE INTERNET
This newsletter was posted on the internet about
ten days before you received this paper copy in the
mail. To see it on your computer screen, just log
on at this address: www.purpleheartaustin.org and
look through the menu and click on “August 2007
Newsletter.” The photos and graphics are in color
and a growing number of our members and friends
are helping us save on printing and mailing costs
by notifying us to stop sending the paper copy
while letting them know by e-mail each month
when PATRIOT BULLETIN has been posted to our
website. You can do so also.
Upon your request, Chapter 1919 will suspend
mailing your paper copy and will add you to the
e-mail notification list. To make sure we get your
e-mail address correctly, please direct your request
to: [email protected]
Page 12
PATRIOT BULLETIN
PATRIOT BIRTHDAYS
...Thanks to all our...
Of the TEXAS CAPITAL CHAPTER
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RUBEN YANEZ
AUGUST
ALBERT SALAZAR JR.
GARY E. VAUGHT
BILLY R. BUSBY
ROBERT A. CARNES
MANUEL CASTILLO
GRANVIL RAY (G.R.) WILLIAMS
CHARLIE J. (JOE) STRANGE JR.
THOMAS W. (TOM) ANDREWS
DOUGLAS A. (DOUG) SCHELLING
FRANCIS D. (DANNY) McDANIEL
WILLIAM D. (W.D.) TOWNSLEY
JOE E. DELGADO
LEONARD T. MANLEY
PRESTON G. HALEY
JOHN E. BRATTEN
JOE J. TREVINO
ANTONIO G. (TONY) GONZALES
LEONARD J. (JIM) CHAMBERS
HERMAN E. (MOE) MOLEN
A. BENTLEY NETTLES
HOWARD M. HICKS
HOWARD E. BARRON
GARY L. NEELY
JOHN C. BURKHARDT
LOUIS L. GARCIA
JOSEPH J.(JOE) KELLEY
GEORGE L. DORING
HORACE P. WILLIAMS
RANDOLPH H. (RANDY) GREENE
ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ
FELIX GRIFFIN JR.
LOUIS BENAVIDES
ROBERT F. KAN
BRADLEY P. DEINES
ALFRED L. BOTELLO
JUAN A. RODRIGUEZ
RAY R. ASHLEY
FRANK C. LUDDEN
WILLIAM R. (BOB) JENKINS
FLETCHER H. KNIGHT
PAUL E. RIDER
WILLIAM A. (BILL) BRANT
EUGENE E. MUZNY
HARTWIN R. (HART) PETERSON SR.
EDWARD L. GRIGSON
THOMAS W. MATTHEWS
JAMES C. CHERNOSKY
BILL GOSHEN
GABRIEL J. TAMAYO
JOHN MESKO
ALAN R. BABIN JR.
CALUPH W. (C.W.) ALLISON
JOHN C. (JOHNNY) KARSTEDT
REFUGIO ROSAS
HERBERT F. (HERB) McDOUGALL
ROBERT A. LAWSON
WILLIAM C. LANE
ROBERT L.(BOB) WHITEHAIR
RAMON R. CORONADO
OSCAR R. SEGURA
SEPT
GILBERT R. MONTOYA
RUBEN N. MARTINEZ
WILLIAM E. DOOLITTLE
RICKI LEE (RICK) GLENN
BOOSTERS
...listed on the adjacent page...
h
a
p
p
y
b
i
r
t
h
d
a
y
...Because, if it were not for them we could not be
publishing this newsletter for the benefit of all the
Patriots, Ladies and Auxiliaries. Thanks especially
to one of our earliest boosters, and that is….
RANDALLS FOOD STORES
who for the past ten years have been sending us a
check every quarter as a donation to support our
VA Outpatient Clinic Purple Heart Coffee Bar
operation. The size of their donation check
depends on the volume of their sales to customers
who designate Chapter 1919 as the organization to
receive the benefit of their patronage. Here’s how
that works.
Regular Randall’s customers are issued a plastic
“Randall’s Card” that gives them discounts on
many purchases. They have what they call the
“Good Neighbor Program” that automatically
rebates one-percent of sales to designated recipients
and Chapter 1919 is one of their “good neighbors,”
GOOD NEIGHBOR ACCOUNT #5939
Stop by the customer service desk and get your new
“Randall’s Card,” or present your old card and ask
that it be electronically imprinted with our account
number #5939. All your future purchases will then
result in Chapter 1919’s quarterly booster checks
being just a little bit bigger because you took the
time to have it done. Also, it doesn’t have to be just
us, we welcome everyone to help support us. So,
tell all your family and friends to register their card
under our Good Neighbor Account #5939 too.
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ROBERT McHANEY
WILLIAM D. WISCHMEYER
ROBERT W. PETERSON
ROBERT L. WARD
WELDON W. TAYLOR
FRED M. (DOC) COX
FELIX B. SILVA JR.
TED A. BICKERSTAFF
EDWARD D. (ED) JONES
SEPT, Cont’d
P A T R I O T B U L L E T IN
Page 13
BOOSTERS
Help support Chapter 1919’s programs by becoming a “Booster” and adding your name to this distinguished list for one
year following. Send check contribution of $10 or more payable to Chapter 1919, MOPH and designate for “Boosters” to:
Adjutant, Milt Carr, 5114 Balcones Woods Drive Suite 307 #175, Austin, TX 78759-5212.
INDIVIDUALS
BARBARA HANSON 8/06
FLETCHER HARRIS 8/06
BOB HARWOOD 5/07
MARTIN ALLDAY 3/07
LESLIE ALLEN 1/07
JOHN ALVARADO, JR. 9/06
ANNONYMOUS 8/06
MIKE BARTON 11/06
ROBERT BERNSTEIN 4/07
JENNYNE BILSKY 4/07
STEPHEN BODNAR 5/07
JACK BOWEN 2/07
JOHN BRAND, D.min., J.D. 2/07
BILL & KATHRYN BRANT 5/07
JOHN BRATTEN 5/07
JAMES L. BROWN 1/07
JOHN BURKHARDT 3/07
MILT CARR 3/07
SEAN CARR 12/06
BETTY CEPEDA 6/07
JIM & ELAINE CHAMBERS 10/06
JACK CHAVEZ 4/07
MARCUS COHEN 12/06
BOB COOK 3/07
CARLOS & ANN HAYDEN 9/06
HERMAN HAYDON 5/07
BOB HEFFORD 11/06
O.H. HUBBARD, JR 3/07
B.H. HUGHES 8/06
CHARLES KELLEY 6/07
THE KERR FAMILY 5/07
CARL & BESS KLEIN 11/06
LEW LEDBETTER 7/07
HAROLD & MAUREEN LEWIS 10/06
HAROLD MARBURGER MEMORIAL 6/07
ARTHUR MASUR, JR. 6/07
JOHNNIE & JOHNNIE MATL 3/07
MEMORIAL, "PAPPY," MASCOT 11/06
"GENERAL PATTON," MASCOT #2 11/06
MASCOT'S FUND RAISING 8/06
RAY MCKEE 7/06
ALICE & JERRY MEEK, WDM, IA 5/06
GEORGE MIGL 1/07
CARLOS SOZA 8/06
HARRY & MARILYN SWAN 1/07
GABRIEL TAMAYO 11/06
CHARLES TARVER 7/06
GWEN & ARTHUR TATE 8/06
W.R. TIMMERMANN 2/07
VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC DONATIONS, Daily
SERVANDO & MARY VARELA 3/07
JACK WARDEN 5/07
ROBERT & JUNE WHITMAN 12/06
MAUREEN YETT 5/07
JOE ZORNICK 3/07
ORGANIZATIONS
ACES 4/07
MOC / MOCA PT 33 Monthly
MOPH SERVICE FOUNDATION
ODD FELLOWS LODGE #23 3/07
RAV - REGULAR AMERICAN VETERANS 3/07
TEXAS MILITARY FORCES MUSEUM,
Monthly
VFW POST 3377 02/07
VFW POST 856 Quarterly
ALL-STAR DONORS
SPECIAL RECOGNITION IS DUE TO EACH OF OUR SUPER BOOSTERS, INDIVIDUALS WHOSE GIFTS HAVE TOTALED
$100 OR MORE — AND CORPORATE DONORS WHO HAVE GIVEN $1,000 OR MORE DURING THE PAST YEAR.
PATRIOT BULLETIN SALUTES
— Martin L.. Allday, J.D. — John Alvarado, Jr. — Mike Barton — Robert Bernstein, M.D. —
— John H. Brand, D.min, J.D. — John E. Bratten — John C. Burkhardt — Jim & Elaine Chambers —
— Raymond M. Diaz — Wallace E. Downey — Rufus Dye, Jr. — John Eli — John Engberg: RAV —
— Jack Hadsell — Fletcher Harris — Robert Harwood — Carlos & Ann Hayden — Carl Klein —
— Lew Ledbetter — Harold & Maureen Lewis — Jerry & Alice Meek — Ponciano Morales,III —
— Henry & Delores Papke — E.L. Parker — Fred & Elaine Rey — Harold Rose —
CORPORATE LEVEL
— Odd Fellows Lodge #23 — Outback Steakhouse — VFW Post 856 —
JOE CRUZ 3/07
ROBERT S. DALTON 2/07
HARRY DAVES 8/06
MACK & FAYE DERRICK 7/07
RAYMOND DIAZ 7/07
WALLACE E. DOWNEY 10/06
PHILIP DREISESZUN 12/06
RUFUS DYE 7/06
JOHN ELI 8/06
VIRGIL ELLIS MEMORIAL - IOOF #23 3/07
JOHN ENGBERG--RAV 3/07
VIC FRYSINGER 1/07
GONZALO GARZA 3/07
RANDY & VIOLA GREENE 9/06
JACK HADSELL 3/07
LEE HAGAN 6/07
TERRY HANKINS 11/06
DONALD MORRISON 5/07
BILL NEWBERRY 3/07
CHAPTER 1919 OFFICERS 10/06
HENRY & DELORES PAPKE 3/07
HENRY & DELORES PAPKE 9/06
EDGAR PARKER 11/06
FRANK & KATHY PLUMMER 8/06
FRED RETTIG 7/06
FRED & ELAINE REY 7/06
ARTHUR RICE MEMORIAL 5/07
MARLIEN RICE 2/07
MINNIE RICE 2/07
HAROLD ROSE 8/06
JACK SALTER MEMORIAL 9/06
ED SCHMALREID 7/06
CLARENCE SEIDL 2/07
JAMES D. SEYMOUR, JR. 5/07
BUSINESSES
AUSTIN DUCK ADVENTURES 11/06
BAE SYSTEMS 4/06
EL AZTECA RESTAURANT 12/06
HILL'S CAFÉ 5/07
INSTY-PRINTS S [ELLER FAMILY] 4360 S
CONGRESS
THE KYLE FAMILY
MCKINNEY E-SYSTEMS & ASSOC., INC. 5/07
MIKE'S PRINT SHOP 6448 HWY 290E
MORALES & ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS, INC 5/07
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE 11600 RESH BLVD 12/06
RANDALLS FOOD MKTS, INC, QTRLY
SYSCO FOOD SVC OF AUSTIN, QTRLY
Page 14
PATRIOT BULLETIN
Tributes
In Memory and Gratitude
CPL BENNY MATIAS, JR.
9th Infantry Division 12-11-68-RVN
CPL JOE GARCIA
For a donation of $25, or more, we will place your message in subsequent
publications of this bulletin for the next twelve months. Special Note: Your contribution
may be tax-deductible to the extent of the law prescribed in the Internal Revenue Code.
—MILT CARR, (512) 343-7940
In Memory of “Troopers”
Ron - Charlie - Dick - Johnnie
KIA - Korean War - 1950
173rd Airborne Brigade 6-4-69-RVN
Who gave their all to their country and will
never be forgotten
RAYMOND DIAZ 7/07
Eighth Cavalry Regiment
In TRIBUTE to the Men of
Company “M”
223rd Infantry Regiment
40th Infantry Division
In Tribute To Our Sons:
MAJOR JACK E. BOWEN, USAF
USAF Acad Class ‘68, FAC, Vietnam
CHIEF RONALD R. BOWEN, USN
Nuclear Sub U.S.S. SAM HOUSTON
KOREAN WAR
JOHN & ANN LINGO 5/07
IN MEMORY
Of my fellow Aviators of the
4th Air Commando Sqdn
AC-47s “Spooky”
Those who answered the final call in Vietnam
MAJOR/USAF (Ret) JERRY L. MEEK 5/06
In Memory of those pilots of the
367th Fighter Group
—WWII Europe
That made the supreme sacrifice
RUFUS DYE 7/06
First Cavalry Division
JAMES LOGAN BROWN 1/07
JACK & LUCILLE BOWEN 2/07
In Memory of the Pilots of the
18th Fighter / Bomber Group
Who Lost Their Lives
During The
KOREAN WAR
RUFUS DYE 7/06
IN MEMORY
Staff Sgt JOHN J. BROWN
A Good Soldier,
A Great Father
JIM BROWN 1/07
IN MEMORY
HANG IN THERE
MEN OF MOPH 1919
“HAVE A GREAT YEAR”
RAY McKEE 7/06
Of the 27 crew chiefs and pilots
Who died in a single plane crash
In England during WWII
439th Troop Carrier Group
JACK HADSELL 3/07
In Memory of Patriot
HAROLD J. MARBURGER
CHARTER MEMBER OF CHAPTER 1919
ARMY, WORLD WAR II, PACIFIC
CO G, 127th INF, 32nd INFANTRY DIV
FROM A CHAPTER 1919 PATRIOT 5/07
In Memory of the pilots of the
In Memory of Members of
MACV Advisory Team 79
who were killed or wounded, and
to those who survived the conflict
Vietnam —1964 - 1965
HAL HUTH 12/06
All Services
Who Passed On While
They Fought for Our Nation
BOB BERNSTEIN, MD MG USA, RET 2/07
TO ALL OF THE OFFICERS, PAST
AND PRESENT, WHOSE EFFORTS
AND DEDICATION HAVE MADE
MOPH CHAPTER 1919
THE BEST IN THE NATION !
HAROLD [TEX-HOSS-HAL] LEWIS 10/06
TO THOSE
WHO SERVED
Semper Fidelis
WILLIAM NEWBERRY 3/07
IN MEMORY OF
JAMES W. FARMER, SR.
Lt Col, U.S. Army, Retired
CAROLYN FARMER DOUGLAS 7/06
In Memory and Honor of the Heroes of
ADVISOR TEAM 1, I CORPS, VIETNAM-1971
And Of The
Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom
Thank You For Sacrificing Your All To Ensure
Peace and Freedom for all Mankind
JOE HARTNESS 10/06
IN HONOR OF THE 36 MEN
CO K, 333rd INF, 84th INF DIV
Who helped preserve our freedoms by
Losing their lives within 6 months time
In Belgium, Germany 1944-1945.
PFC JOHN E. BRATTEN 5/07
For Fallen Comrades
1st Armored Division (Old Ironsides)
388th Tactical Fighter Wing
VIETNAM WAR
From FORT KNOX To BRENNER PASS;
Via ENGLAND, AFRICA, and
That Made the Supreme Sacrifice
ITALY’s APENNINES, ANZIO, PO
RUFUS DYE 7/06
This is in Memory and Gratitude
For the Many Members of
CARLOS HAYDEN 9/06
To those who gave their lives
103rd Infantry Division
Europe, 1944-45
JOHN BRAND, D.Min., J.D. 2/07
P A T R I O T B U L L E T IN
Page 15
More Tributes
TAPS
IN REVERENT MEMORY OF THE
1,534 “SKY SOLDIERS”
Who Died in Vietnam
1965 — 1971
173rd AIRBORNE BRIGADE
MILT CARR 3/07
In Memory of Patriot
ARTHUR RICE
SURVIVOR OF THE
BATAAN DEATH MARCH
WORLD WAR II
MINNIE RICE 5/07
In Memory of My Fallen Comrades
5th REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
ARMY, KOREA
1950-1953
LEST WE FORGET
JAMES P. BRYANT 6/07
TAPS
Patriot PAUL F. BARBUTO has died recently. He was born in New
York City, October 30, 1918. He served in the National Guard,
enlisting in 1939. He was later selected for aviator training and
attended pre-flight school at Maxwell Field, Alabama; navigation
school at Selma Field. Louisiana, and aerial gunnery training at Fort
Myers Florida. He was commissioned in April 1944 and shipped to
the European Theatre in July 1944 where he was assigned as a
Navigator of a bomber in the 379th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He
was wounded in the air over Ludwigshaven, Germany during a
bombing mission on September 8, 1944. Paul lived in Austin and had
been a member of Chapter 1919 for the past six years.
The death of Patriot CELERINO “BLACKIE” CASTILLO, was
recently reported to us through National Headquarters. Patriot
Castillo was an Army WWII veteran, born May 24, 1926. He was
wounded on Cebu Island in the Philippines on April 14, 1945 while
serving in Company F, 182nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division.
He had been a member of Chapter 1919 for seven years.
Patriot JOHN F. RUSSELL, M.D., died earlier this year and his
death has just been reported by National Headquarters. John had been
a member of the 454th Bomb Group, wounded when his B-24 bomber
of the 739th Bomb Squadron was shot down during a mission to Linz,
Austria. The crew bailed out over Yugoslavia and were quickly
captured. John had told us that they were subsequently freed by a
group of Tito’s Partisans. They then had to walk out 150 miles,
successfully evading recapture, before reaching safety. They finally
arrived at a French Red Cross Mission, but were turned away because
they had lice. They sought and found help elsewhere. Dr. Russell was
a distant member who had been in Chapter 1919 for three years.
The death of Patriot PAUL SPIVEY has just been reported to us from
National Headquarters. He was born March 22, 1917 in Atlanta,
Texas. He was a career Air Force Officer, retired after 31 years active
duty. He had entered service in the Army Air Corps in November
1940 and was wounded in North Africa, January 3, 1943, while
serving in the 49th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group. He had
been a member of Chapter 1919 for eight years.
The MILITARY ORDER of the PURPLE HEART of the U.S.A.
TEXAS CAPITAL CHAPTER 1919
5701 PAINTED VALLEY DR
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78759-5527
NONPROFITORGANIZATION
U.S.POSTAGE PAID
AUSTIN,TX
PERMITNO.504
“ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED”
RT DAY
A
E
H
E
L
PURP ON AUG 4th
ATI
CELEBR
JULY ’07
NO
MEETINGS
SUMMER
BREAK !
JANUARY ’08
7TH, BREAKFAST
16TH —STAFF NOON
SAT., 19TH, 10AM
MONTHLY MEETING
CAMP MABRY
MUSEUM
Lunch Afterward at
Luby’s Cafeteria
MOPAC at Steck
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
6TH BREAKFAST
3RD BREAKFAST
1st STAFF NOON
12TH STAFF NOON
SAT, 4TH, 11AM
PURPLE HEART DAY
CELEBRATION
“The 224th Anniversary
Of the Purple Heart”
SAT, 15TH, 10AM
MONTHLY MEETING
CAMP MABRY
MUSEUM, Bldg # 6
OCTOBER
1ST BREAKFAST
17TH STAFF NOON
SAT, 20TH, 10AM
MONTHLY MEETING
CAMP MABRY
JUNE
MARCH
At “The Austin Club”
Great Entertainment,
Great Food, and, a
Great Time at a Great Party
SEATINGS AT 11:30AM & 12:30PM
MAY
FEBRUARY
7TH BREAKFAST
up Congress Ave, then
SUN 2ND -CHILDREN’S
CHRISTMAS PARTY
3-5PM
SAT 8TH-OUTBACK
PURPLE SANTA BENEFIT
APRIL
CAMP MABRY MUSEUM
MOPAC at Steck
FRI, 22ND, 6PM
GEORGE
WASHINGTON’S
BIRTHDAY
DINNER PARTY
SUN, 11TH, 9AM
VETERAN’S DAY
PARADE
3RD BREAKFAST
MOPAC at Steck
Lunch Afterward at
Luby’s Cafeteria
3RD BREAKFAST
7TH STAFF NOON
SOUTH STEPS OF THE
CAPITOL BLDG
Lunch Afterward at
Luby’s Cafeteria
20TH —STAFF NOON
5TH BREAKFAST
DECEMBER
SUN, 9TH, 1—5 PM
CHAPTER / UNIT
HOLIDAY PARTY
BOTH PARTYS ARE AT ODD
FELLOWS LODGE #23
6809 GUADALUPE
MUSEUM, Bldg # 6
FOOD AND DRINKS FREE
FOR PATRIOTS, FAMILY &
GUESTS
4TH BREAKFAST
NOVEMBER
CEREMONY
FOLLOWS AT 11AM
5TH BREAKFAST
14TH- STAFF NOON
SAT, 17TH, 10AM
12TH —STAFF NOON
16TH —STAFF NOON
SAT, 15TH, 10AM
MONTHLY MEETING
CAMP MABRY
MUSEUM
SAT, 19TH, 10AM
MONTHLY MEETING
ANNUAL ELECTION
OFFICERS INSTALLATION
HILL’S CAFÉ
CAMP MABRY MUSEUM
Lunch Afterward at
Lunch Afterward at
TBA—MEMORIAL
DAY ACTIVITIES
LUBY’S CAFETERIA
Luby’s Cafeteria
MOPAC at Steck
MOPAC at Steck
MONTHLY MEETING, AND
4700 S Congress Ave
PFLUGERVILLE
COOK-WALDEN
CAPITAL PARK
14619 N IH-35
2ND BREAKFAST
18TH—STAFF NOON
SAT, 21ST, 11AM
Chapter
ANNUAL PICNIC
FULL COOKOUT MENU
CAMP MABRY
PICNIC GROUNDS
Free For Members,
Family, And Guests
FY-2008 TEXAS CAPITAL CHAPTER 1919 EVENTS CALENDAR