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March 9, 2009/Vol. 86, No. 3
The mission of the american legion, department of wisconsin is to provide service to veterans, their families and their communities.
WIN $10,000!
Later this month, you will be receiving tickets in the mail for
the Convention Sweepstakes. These are your opportunity to win
$10,000 while, at the same time, supporting the essential programs
of The Wisconsin American Legion. By returning your tickets and
your donation, you will ensure the continuation of our important
work. The Wisconsin American Legion will spend over $1 million
on programs and services benefiting veterans, military families,
and youth in Wisconsin this year alone. We cannot do it without
the help of our members.
Each year, our youth programs give thousands of children
across Wisconsin the opportunity to enrich themselves and earn
money for college. Our Junior Shooting Sports Program teaches
discipline, concentration, and gun safety, while our High School
Oratorical Scholarship Program and our Americanism and Government Test Program teach civics and foster Americanism. These
are things missing from many high schools’ curriculum. Without
us, who will ensure that these students understand the price of
freedom and the responsibilities that come with it?
These programs, and the many others like American Legion
Baseball and County Youth Government Day, cannot continue
without your support. The Wisconsin American Legion awards
tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving youth in
our communities each year. Your donations directly support these
programs and are vital to their survival. Please help us keep these
programs running and these funds available to worthy students.
Return all twelve tickets for a suggested donation of $20.00 and
increase your chances of winning one of eight cash prizes. It is
the best value and allows for the most chances to win cash!
Attend the Department Convention in Milwaukee and watch
the winning tickets being drawn. Winners need not be present to
win, so even if you cannot attend, you can still win $10,000 or
one of the many other prizes.
Please return your tickets no later than July 20, 2009 to be
eligible to win.
Grand Prize $10,000 • Second Prize $2,000
Third Prize $1,000 • Fourth-Eighth Prize $500
You do not need to be a member of the Legion to be eligible
to win. If you have questions or would like to request additional
tickets, contact Jessika at our office at (608) 745-1090 or jessika@
wilegion.org.
Thank you for your continued support!
32nd National Guard Send-Off
Approximately 3,200 Wisconsin
Army National Guard soldiers and
their families were honored at a
send-off ceremony Tuesday, February 17th, at noon at the Alliant
Energy Center Veterans Memorial
Coliseum in Madison.
The soldiers are deploying with
the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat
Team for a tour of duty in support
of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ceremony participants included Gov.
Jim Doyle, members of Congress,
state legislators, mayors and National Guard officials.
In addition to honoring these
soldiers and their families for their
sacrifices, officials participated in
the signing of a Wisconsin MilitaryCommunity Covenant, committing
all parties to building programs
and partnerships that support the
strength, resilience and readiness of
all Wisconsin service members and
their families. Joining local, state and
federal officials were representatives
from the U.S. Army Reserve, Marine
Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air
Force Reserve and veteran and service organizations. Wisconsin American Legion 3rd District Commander
Denise Rohan signed the Covenant
on behalf of all Wisconsin’s veteran
service organizations.
After the February 17th event,
soldiers returned to their armories for a few days and reported to
Fort Bliss in elements of 400-600
soldiers over the following 10 days.
All soldiers were expected to be in
Texas by March 1st.
The Wisconsin American Legion
is going to do everything we can to
support these soldiers and their families during their deployment and after
their return home. Last month, we
mailed a key tag to all members who
have donated to our direct mail fundraising appeals (labels, post-it notes,
etc) in the past. These key tags have
a Red Arrow wrapped in a yellow
ribbon on one side and the address of
the Wisconsin American Legion on
the other. You can attach your keys to
show your support for the 32nd and
should you misplace them, they can
be mailed directly back to us so that
we may return them to you.
Please support this important appeal. The funds raised will go a long
way in letting these soldiers and
their families know how much we
appreciate their service. If you have
not donated to Legion programs in
the past, but would like to help out
with this appeal, send your name
and mailing information to Jessika
at [email protected]. Supplies
are limited and will be available on
a first come, first serve basis. Thank
you for your support.
80,000
2009 Veterans Day at WDVA in the Capitol
70,000
By Ken Brown, Chairman
Dept. Legislative Committee
As you all should be aware,
there have been discussions at the
Department Executive Committee
and elsewhere regarding the effectiveness of our annual Salute to
the Legislature. Because of those
discussions and our like-minded
veterans in the DAV and the VFW,
we have come up with a mutually
agreed upon alternative.
On March 31st, we will all
meet at Wisconsin Department of
Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Headquarters, 30 West Mifflin Street,
50,000
Madison, WI.
Start time is 10:00 a.m. The morning meeting is to brief all of those
who attend on the Legislative Priorities for this biennium budget cycle.
This will provide everyone with
enough information to be able to
speak to their elected representatives
in a clear and concise manner.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., we
will break for lunch. WDVA is trying to work with a local restaurant to
provide a reasonably priced buffet
luncheon (expense to be borne by
the individual).
At 1:00 p.m., we will all gather
in the Capitol rotunda for a short
rally.
At approximately 1:30 p.m.
we will disperse to our individual
Senator/Representative’s office for
a one-on-one chat regarding the
Legislative priorities of the more
than 400,000 Wisconsin veterans.
While every Legislator will be
notified well in advance of the special day, and a request will be made
that they be available in their offices
for veterans to come by and talk, I
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE each
of you attending to make a personal
appointment with your elected rep-
resentative, or at least his/her Chief
of Staff, to ensure they are available
when you arrive.
This year will mark our first try
at the new format. I expect there to
be some “bugs,” but nothing that
we cannot work through.
We need the help of as many
Legionnaires as possible, so please
plan on attending!
If we do not speak to our elected
representatives in a clear, concise
and heartfelt manner, then who
will speak for the veterans of our
State?
SEE YOU THERE!
60,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
Membership
Goal 70,750
64,730 as of
2/25/09
PAGE 2
BADGER LEGIONNAIRE & AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN”
Department Commander
Badger Legionnaire
& American Legion
Auxiliary “Wisconsin”
Monthly publication of Wisconsin American
Legion & American Legion Auxiliary,
Department of Wisconsin, 2930
American Legion Drive, P.O. Box 388,
Portage, WI 53901. Phone: (608) 745-1090;
Fax (608) 745-0179
E-mail: [email protected]
Periodicals Postage Paid at Portage, WI
and additional mailing offices
ISSN Number 01622218
2008-2009 Badger Legionnaire Committee
Jessika Erickson, Editor
John Wolfe, Chairman
Don Stone, Vice Chairman
Mike Wagoner, DEC Liaison
William Gengler, Member
Bernard Olson, Member
William Streiter, Member
Jim Theres, Member
Mike Rohan, Consultant
Loretta Shellman, Aux. Liaison
Kathy Wollmer, Aux Exec. Sec./Treas.
New Beginnings
March, what
a great time for
new beginnings!
Old man winter
wants to hang
on, spring is
James Reigel
pushing him out
Commander
of the way. On
the eighth, we start daylight savings
time. Then we have the American
Legion birthday. What a great time
to rededicate ourselves to working
the great programs of The American
Legion. Past National Commander
Marty Conatser said “The American Legion stands for everything
that is good about America.” That
is a powerful statement, but it is one
Wisconsin American Legion
2008-2009 Department Officers
Commander
James Reigel
Vice Commanders
Phil Cote
Leo Endres
Dave Schmidt
Willard “Chris” Christensen
Adjutant
Terry Troutman
Chaplain
Frank Wozniak
Judge Advocate
Dennis Juncer
Historian
Mike Rohan
Sergeant-at-Arms
Marty Czarnecki
Michael Zapka
Service Officer
Tom Ludka
NECman
David Gough
Alternate NECman
David Kurtz
District Commanders
1st – Cal Johnson
2nd – Bob Batty
3rd – Denise Rohan
4th – Marv Brozynski
5th – Gary Gromacki
6th – Bob Krause
7th – Mike Wagoner
8th – Don Southworth
9th – Denis Lamers
10th – Frank Donnelly
11th – Joe Story
12th – Steve DuBois
American Legion
Auxiliary
Kathy Wollmer, Editor
Kathy Wollmer, Executive Sec.-Treas.
Auxiliary Office
2930 American Legion Drive/P.O. Box 140
Portage, WI 53901
Sue Vorwald, Department President
To change your address: Notify Unit Secretary.
Unit Secretary: Notify Department
Headquarters on a Member Data Form.
The “Wisconsin” deadline for copy is the
1st of each month.
postmaster: Send address changes to:
Badger Legionnaire & American Legion Auxiliary
“Wisconsin”, P.O. Box 388, Portage, WI 53901.
Publication Schedule
All articles due to the Editor by the 1st of each month.
Send all copy for Badger Legionnaire to Editor, P.O.
Box 388, Portage, WI 53901.
E-Mail: [email protected]
that we can all be proud of.
We just completed our State
Oratorical competition at Ripon
College. These high school students
have done another great job at orating some of the highlights of our
U.S. Constitution. What a wonderful way to get our most talented
high school students involved by
researching and putting into words
the wisdom of the divine guidance
that our forefathers had when they
originally wrote, arguably the
second most important piece of
literature after the Bible! Not only
have the students earned valuable
scholarships at our state competition, but they are also advancing to
national competition were they can
win a portion of the $138,000 dollars to be awarded in scholarships.
Now that we have all had our
farewell programs for the soldiers
of the 32nd Brigade, let us keep
them in our prayers. Let us make
sure that our family support programs are all up and running in
each of the affected communities.
There are still some units that are
open for adoption. Please contact
past Department Commander Al
Richards for contact information
for these units. You can reach Al
at (608) 783 - 1715.
Last month, I had the honor of
representing you at the 75th An-
niversary of the Lincoln Pilgrimage in Springfield, Illinois. I laid
a wreath at the tomb of Abraham
Lincoln on the 200th anniversary
of his birth. What a great example
of leadership and courage the 16th
President was. May we all emulate
his example and help our great nation to be all that it can be! I would
like to leave you this month with
one of my favorite quotations from
Abraham Lincoln, “Let us have
faith that right makes might; and in
that faith let us to the end dear to do
our duty as we understand it.”
May God bless you and may
God bless the American Legion.
Aim High with Legion Pride
Department Service Officer
The deadline for copy is the 1st of each month.
Change of Address & Circulation Information
Subscribers: To report any upcoming changes
of address, please ask your Post Adjutant to fill
out Membership Data Form and forward it to
Wisconsin American Legion Headquarters. The
change of address form that will be completed
by the Post Adjutant should not be confused
with the change of address card filled out at
the Post Office.
March 9, 2009
Info You Can Use
The Department of Defense
has opened a
new center to
assist military
members, vetThomas Ludka
erans, and their
Service Officer
families with
questions about psychological
health and traumatic brain injury.
The center is staffed 24/7, 365
days a year. Contact the center by
phone at (866) 966-1020 or e-mail
at [email protected]
Some veterans experience questions about their treatment at
VA medical centers. Our office
receives complaints about exams,
billing, parking, treatment, etc.
The first thing we will ask the
veteran is did you speak with the
Patient Advocate at the medical
center you have the problem with?
Many veterans do not know that
the VA staffs an office to advocate
on behalf of the veteran. To contact the Patient Advocate at your
medical center call; Milwaukee
– (414) 384-2000 or toll free 888469-6614 X42604, Tomah (608)
372-3971 X66353, Madison (608)
280-7182, Appleton (920) 8317909, Minneapolis, MN (612)
467-2373, St Cloud, MN (320)
255-6381, or Iron Mountain MI
(906) 774-3300 X32020.
The Supreme Court will not
hear the Haas case. The case dealt
with recognition of “Blue Water”
Vietnam veterans. The VA has
Chaplain
Are You Ready?
Occasionally,
I get an opportunity to relax
in front of the
television set
and enjoy one
Frank Wozniak
of the few proChaplain
grams that relax
and inspire me for whatever the
reason might be.
Two of the programs are
“Wheel of Fortune” and “America’s Funniest Videos.” Other
than the world news, I find very
little time to sit in front of our
family television.
I particularly enjoy the crazy
and weird antics of the people
on “America’s Funniest Videos.” It reminds me of the old
“Candid Camera” show of years
past when Allen Funt used to
say, “some day, somehow, when
you least expect it, you can be on
Candid Camera.”
Maybe we can change that
to say that we, as God-fearing
people can never expect what
will happen next. If you think
about it, none of us reading this
today can foresee what will happen tomorrow.
God has given us this Gift of
Life and He wants us to enjoy it.
Only He can see our future. If
you think you are experiencing
a good and happy life and that
good and believe that happy life
will continue and there is no end,
well, as the saying goes, “you
have another thing coming.”
We, as God’s children, should
always and seriously consider
what He has in store for our future. Some may say “well, God’s
not done with me yet,” but the
question is how do you know?
Our future is in God’s hands.
It is not according to our will, but
only His will.
So you see, “when you least
expect it” could be very near.
Our lives should always be governed with the thought that when
God wants you home, He will
call you. We don’t have much
choice in this matter. You can’t
tell God to wait. He tells you
now, so be it.
What I’m trying to convey to
you today is, live your life today
as if it’s your last, for it may be.
I’m not trying to be a pessimist,
but one who is concerned. I hope
you are concerned as well.
No matter how happy you
are with your life, today, just
think what your life thereafter
will be. I hope and pray that
thereafter is what you are really
there after. God bless and keep
you all.
continued to deny compensation for
Agent Orange related disabilities to
veterans who served on the waters
outside of Vietnam. By choosing to
not hear the case, the court has now
opened the way for the VA to adjudicate the denial of those claims.
On January 21st, Senator Daniel
Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the
US Senate Committee on Veterans
Affairs, sent a letter to the VA.
The Senator has asked the VA to
explain the procedures to be followed by regional offices when
developing claims for veterans
who were aboard ships that made
port calls, especially at Danang, or
who served in inland waterways.
The answer is still pending!
Public Law 110-329 authorized
the VA to enroll some Priority
Group 8 veterans. A Group 8 veteran was not allowed to enroll for
VA healthcare if their income did
not meet the geographic means
test, (GMT), for the county they
live in. In Milwaukee that would
be $37,900 for a single veteran or
$43,000 for a veteran with one dependent. Beginning in June 2009
Priority 8 veterans, whose income
does not exceed the GMT by more
than 10%, should be allowed to enroll for VA healthcare. The figure
for a Milwaukee county veteran
would be increase to $41,690 for
a single veteran and $47,300 for a
veteran with one dependent. Check
with your CVSO for the GMT
figure for your county.
Commander Reigel to visit
Zablocki and Union Grove
On March 17th, Commander
Jim Reigel will make visits to the
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical
Center in Milwaukee and Union
Grove VA Home. He will be at Zablocki at 9 a.m. and then continue
on to Union Grove for a 2 p.m. visit.
Lunch will be served at Zablocki
and anyone planning to attend the
visit with the Commander is asked
to RSVP to Kathie Lake at kathie@
wilegion.org or (608) 745-1090.
Waunakee Hosts Bonspiel
The 2009 Wisconsin American Legion Bonspiel, hosted
by Waunakee Legion Post 360, was held February 6th-9th
at the Arlington Curling Club. Sixteen teams from around
the state participated and over 90 Legionnaires and veteran military families attended Saturday’s banquet. Department Vice Commander Leo Endres was the guest speaker.
The event winners were Skip Gerald Peterson of Post 398
in Plain on the first event, Skip Cliff Erstad of Post 271 in
Poynette in the second event and Skip Bob Zeman of Post
360 in Waunakee on the third event. Pictured left to right
are the winners of the first event: Fred Peterson, Merle Holerud, Brandt McSashlin, and Gerald “Pete” Peterson.
March 9, 2009
BADGER LEGIONNAIRE & AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN”
PAGE 3
SAL Detachment
Greetings from the Sons of the American Legion
The Sons of
The American
Legion is to extend its activities beyond our
veterans and
Kirk Hove
families. One
Detachment
way to promote
Commander
Americanism
education in our schools is to purchase the flag education DVD “For
Which It Stands” on the Legion
website www.legion.org and go to
emblem sales.
Scholarship: The Sons of the
American Legion Detachment of
Wisconsin has a $1,000 Scholarship
for which you may apply. Deadline
is April 1st. Complete rules and
applications may be printed from
the Sons of The American Legion
web site, www.wisal.org, under
scholarship or contact Department
Headquarters.
MEMBERSHIP: The 2008
Sons of the American Legion membership should be sent to Department Headquarters. We are still in
first place in the central region and
4th place in the nation. Let’s work
on getting back to first place.
Donations to our special projects, we have a variety of places
where your Squadron and you,
as individuals, can donate. We
appreciate all of the support that
has come in so far, keep up the
good work, if you want to see your
squadron listed here, make your
donation soon.
Commander’s Project Camp
American Legion: Mike and Joe
Phillips #75 Fond du Lac, #437
Mazomanie, #108 Clear Lake, #120
West Allis, 100% By Veterans Day
Donation from the Detachment, #
209 Orfordville, #214 Darlington,
449 Brookfield
Child Welfare Foundation:
#129 Black River Falls, #437
Mazomanie, #158 Maiden Rock,
#108 Clear Lake.
National Emergency
Fund: #437 Mazomanie, #209
Orfordville.
Fundraiser Letter Campaign:
Individuals from #70 Oshkosh,
#157 Horicon, #203 Milwaukee,
#449 Brookfield.
Email Contest Winners Announced: The following people
won our email contest and have
been notified by email, pursuant to
the rules they need to reply to the
email notification within 30 days.
Verified #437 Robert Sutcliffe,
116 Bradley Role, #91 Terry Kasten, Rachel Riechhoff, #547 Neal
Tytor, #245 Kerry Serverson, #333
Dennis Norton, #437 Dave Clason,
Marian Tyrrell
Bad Email address or No Re-
ply: John Kerestan, #73 Scott
Simpson, #27 Leo Belter, 245 Cole
Miller, Nick Volnec, #121 Jakob
Till, 417 Nick Boswell, #84 Charles
Drnek, #51 Andrea Page, #271 Patrick Gatling, Kevin Meinholtz,
Our next meeting will be our
Spring DEC Meeting April 25th
at Sons of The American Legion
Headquarters in Portage. We will
have National Vice Commander
Dennis Blue as a guest speaker, all
Squadron members are welcome
to attend.
EMAIL NEWS: Sign up on our
website www.wisal.org for regular
updates to SAL news.
Keep your squadron informed.
Department Historian
Who’s Going to Remember?
Last month,
we watched as
the Wisconsin
National Guard
held a send-off
for the 3,400
Mike Rohan
soldiers from
Historian
the 32nd Brigade Combat Team. The host of
the event reminded the soldiers
of their rich heritage. The record
was impressive, with five years
of active service and 654 days
of combat, longer than any other
Army Division. The valor was
unquestionable with eleven Con-
gressional Medal of Honor winners and more then 3,000 other
citations for valor and 11,500
Purple Heart medals. They told
these young soldiers about how
those who served before them did
so with honor, valor, courage, and
strength.
If someone in your post is not
recording the history, then who is
going to remember? Who will remember the election of officers for
2008? Was it William or Jerry that
was commander back then? When
did we build that building and who
served as the main speaker at the
Memorial Day service?
The history of The American
Legion is written everyday in communities across this country. Each
of us wants to contribute in some
way to the success of our post and
community. We spend countless
hours working on special projects,
American Legion programs, and
community events.Wouldn’t it be
great to have the work captured
in words and/or pictures for those
who come after you to see what
you and your post contributed to
the community? We know you
have done great things this year
and we want to see that work become a part of both your post and
your community history.
There is still lots of time to
get started. Commanders, if you
don’t already have a Historian appointed for your post, take action
now. Putting an article in your
local newsletter probably won’t
net any results. Look for someone who always has a camera at
your events and call them on the
phone and ask him/her to accept
the position.
There are resources out there to
help you collect and record your
WDVA News
Ve t e r a n s ’
Stakeholder
Conference. A
Veterans’ Stakeholder Conference will be held
on March 31,
2009 from 10:00
Ken Black
a.m. to Noon
Acting Secretary
of the WI Dept. of
in the Second
Veterans Affairs
Floor Education
Center at the WDVA Wisconsin
Veterans Museum at 30 W. Mifflin
Street in Madison. Attendance and
participation are encouraged. To
pre-register call 1-800-WIS-VETS
(1-800-947-8787) Ext. 6-1315 or
email: [email protected].
wi.us. The Veterans’ Stakeholder
Conference is being held in conjunction with Wisconsin Veterans in the Capitol Day hosted
by Wisconsin’s veterans service
organizations.
Annual Veterans Award Nominations. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA)
is seeking nominations for the
Annual Veterans Awards. Award
nominations are for actions and
achievements between the period
of Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2008. Categories are: Veterans Advocate of the
Year; “Mission: Welcome Home”
Supporter of the Year; Iron Mike,
a Government Officials’ Service
to Veterans Award; County Veterans Service Officer of the Year;
Veterans Service Officer of the
Year; and, Veterans’ Volunteer
of the Year Award. Nominations
for the awards must be submitted
using WDVA Form 0140 by close
of business March 16, 2009 and
sent to the WDVA Office of Public
Affairs, 30 W. Mifflin St., P.O. Box
7843, Madison, WI 53707-7843 or
faxed to (608) 2674-7616. WDVA
Form 0140 can be found at:
www.WisVets.com/forms/
#WDVA0140.
2009-2011 Biennial Budget.
Updated information about the
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs biennial budget
request is posted to the WDVA
website at www.WisVets.com/
Budget as it becomes available.
Legislation Page. A new webpage now appears on WDVA’s
website, entitled “Legislation,” at
www.WisVets.com/Legislation.
See the information index list on
the left sidebar of WDVA’s home
page, to view a current listing of
bills related to veterans, information on the 2009-2011 State
of Wisconsin Legislature, the
Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly Committees, and Federal
Legislative Information pertaining to veterans affairs.
Revised Claims Brochure
(WDVA B0204). A revised
WDVA Claims Assistance (01/09)
brochure is now available for
download on the WDVA website
at www.WisVets.com/Brochures.
The revised brochure replaces the
WDVA B0204 (01/05).
Hot Topics Page: The Hot
Topics page www.WisVets.com/
HotTopics to the WDVA website
is continuously being updated.
Recent changes include many previously separate items now part of
a page called Deployment Health.
It includes: Suicide Prevention,
PTSD and Mental Health, TBI,
Gulf War Illnesses, Atomic Radiation and Chemical Biological
Warfare Exposures.
Mission: Welcome Home
Program. The WDVA “Mission:
Welcome Home” webpage www.
WisVets.com/welcomehome has
recently been updated to provide
additional information on the
program and helpful links to
resources for returning and other
veterans.
WDVA Outreach continues.
WDVA continues to participate in
veterans’ events. The department
is planning outreach activities to
take place throughout the state, to
include Supermarkets of Veterans
Benefits, Veterans Benefits Open
Houses on college campuses,
ceremonies and special events.
For details, go to www.WisVets.
com/Events.
WDVA welcomes items for
website’s Events Page. WDVA
encourages submissions about
upcoming veterans’ events, which
can be viewed on the Current
Events Page at www.WisVets.
com/Events. Contact WDVA at:
[email protected].
For more information on WDVA
state programs, services and
resources,and to read updates on
issues and hot topics, visit www.
WisVets.com or call 1-800-WISVETS (1-800-947-8387).
history, like your local library,
scrapping clubs, etc., but there
are also members of the Wisconsin Historians Association who
are willing to come out and talk
with you about your ideas. These
Legionnaires are willing to spend
time with you and help you design
a plan for your post history. They
all have extensive experience in
American Legion history books
and some have even won National
awards for their own work. Contact me at [email protected]
if you would like to have one of
these talented people assist you.
Camp Director Announces Retirement
My time as Director at Camp
American Legion has been very
challenging and rewarding,
but my wife Linda and I have
decided to retire at the end of
this year. I look forward to
the selection of a new director
so that the mission of Camp
American Legion can be carried on. I also look forward to
working with a new director
this season for a smooth transi-
tion. Many wonderful projects
and friendships have been created during our time at Camp
American Legion and we look
forward to another successful
season. I hope to see all of you
this coming summer and don’t
forget to spread the word about
our wonderful camp.
Jim Youngquist,
Director,
Camp American Legion
Plan your Children & Youth
Month Activities for April
Sponsor an American Legion Baseball Team
- contact Jill for more information at [email protected] or (608) 745-1090
May 1st Applications Due to Department
– All information can be found in the Administrative Manual
-Edward J. Ormsby Law and Order Award
-Outstanding Fire Fighter Award
-Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Award
-Eagle Scout of the Year
-Outstanding Legislature Award
-Junior Shooting Sports Scholarship
March:
7th – April 26th - Department Bowling Tournament
15th – 17th – American Legion Birthday (1919)
19th – Start of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” (2003)
31st – Veterans Day in the Capitol
PAGE 4
BADGER LEGIONNAIRE & AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN”
March 9, 2009
Did You Check The Back Door?
2009 Newsletter
Publication Contest
By Ralph Jurjens,
Jr., WALPA President
The Wisconsin American Legion Press Association (WALPA)
committee is encouraging all
Wisconsin American Legions,
Auxiliary Units, SAL Squadrons,
County, District, 40et8 Voitures,
and Legion Riders organizations’ newsletter editors to enter
the 2009 Publications Contest.
There are many fine publications
throughout the Department. We
are looking for the Best of the
Best that deserve recognition
and bragging rights. WALPA
members in good standing may
submit entries. WALPA’s annual
dues are $5. The majority of the
dues collected fund the annual
Publications contest. Winning
entries will be displayed and
plaques and certificates will be
awarded at the 2009 Department of Wisconsin Convention. Thank you in advance for
your time and consideration.
Good luck to all.
Wisconsin American Legion
Press Association
2009 —Publication Contest Entry
Publication entries must consist of three (3) separate editions
published during the 2008 calendar year.
“Class VI Editorial Entry“ — only one article is necessary
Contest is open to all Wisconsin Legion Posts, Auxiliary
Units, SAL Squadrons, 40 & 8, Riders publications, and County
or District Publications.
CLASS I
CLASS II
CLASS III
CLASS IV
CLASS V
CLASS VI
Posts with membership of 15 to 100
Posts with membership of 101 to 300
Posts with membership of 301 and over
Special category: County or District Publications, S.A.L., 40 et 8, Auxiliary, Riders, etc.
Electronic Newsletter
Editorial — single article
Plaques will be awarded for 1st Place in ALL classes. Certificates will be awarded for 2nd and 3rd Place in each class.
Entry deadline is April 15, 2009. If not a WALPA member,
please submit $5 to cover 2009 membership dues. Please make
out checks to American Legion/WALPA and enclose with your
entry. Mail all contest entries to:
Wisconsin American Legion
PO Box 388
Portage, WI 53901
Attn: Jessika Erickson
By Al Richards, Chairman
Department National
Security Committee
First, let me say thank you for
the great job you have been doing
supporting our troops and, just as
importantly, their families. Many
of you have become active with the
Legion’s “Adopt a Unit” program,
while others have been helping
with “Mobilization Briefings,”
going away parties and handing
out Blue Star Banners to our brave
young men and women. This is all
really fantastic, but as we proudly
send them off through the front
door, please don’t forget those who
have come home through the back
door, our wounded soldiers.
When I was wounded in Vietnam, my route home took me
through two hospitals over there,
one in Japan and finally Great
Lakes Naval Hospital. We called
it coming home through the back
door. I was fortunate to be close
enough to home (just across the
Illinois border), so that my family
could visit me. When I recovered
Post Name & Number _________________________________
Celebrate The American Legion
By Chuck Roloff, Chairman
Dept. Fundraising Committee
We, the 70 some thousand
members of the Wisconsin American Legion, should take a moment
to celebrate what we have accomplished and what the Wisconsin
American Legion means to the
citizens of our state.
Saturday, February 21 at Ripon,
we were treated to 12 presentations from young high school
students from every corner of
Wisconsin. I am proud that we,
The American Legion, offer the
opportunity for these purposeful
young people to demonstrate their
“stuff.”
The Oratorical Scholarships
were provided this year by the
Oberreich Foundation of Fond
du Lac. The Oberreich Board’s
gift occurred because one of our
70,000 members knew one of the
Foundation’s board members. The
Legion member shared with his
Over Four Decades of Partnership
for a Healthy America
For more information about
the Legionnaire Insurance Trust
affordable insurance plans and superior
service call toll-free, 1-800-235-6943, or
visit our Web site at: www.theLIT.com
City _____________________________ Zip + 4 ___________
Post Membership (for Class determination) _________________
III
your Legion is working on your
behalf with the American Soldier.
Secondly, I expect that at least one
of us will lose our keys. Would it
not be wonderful to have them
returned?
Additionally, I invite you to
carry around the letter with the
American Legion Emblem and
the big Red Arrow, for “show
and tell” as the opportunity is
offered to you. Use it as a way to
tell others about how the Legion
is involved in the lives of our US
Military.
Coming this summer, you will
have the opportunity to obtain a 1
inch pin which will carry the Red
Arrow/Yellow Ribbon for your
cap or lapel. Return your key tag
reply so that you will be sure to be
included in the pin mailing.
In the meantime, stand tall and
proud of your Legion. Stand with
your Legion. “The check is in the
mail!” Make it so.
Legionnaire Insurance Trust
Editor’s Address _____________________________________
II
friend some of the American Legion story and asked whether the
Foundation might be interested in
learning more about the work and
public service we perform.
Many of you have the same
opportunity. You have a friend,
acquaintance, employer, etc. who
would be open to supporting one
of our projects. You only need to
make an introduction. We will
proceed with the organization,
providing information which will
allow them to consider supporting
The American Legion.
Earlier this month, I, and most
of you, received the Key Tag
promotion. This is the beginning
of our 2009 Troop Support effort.
This, too, is part of our American
Legion job.
I invite you to personally participate in funding this program.
Please be generous. At the same
time, the key tag offers a great
daily reminder of the fact that
Over 200 Posts are now taking advantage of the Post Locator on the Department Website. Is your Post included? If not, contact Jessika at [email protected] or (608) 745-1090 to get started. There is no cost for
this service and it is easy to do. Being included in the Post Locator allows potential members and the public to
find you! It is also a great tool for advertising the programs, events, and activities your Post participates in.
Editor’s Name _______________________________________
I
snapped back into place the way it
had always been and if what happened over there stayed over there,
but the truth is, returning from war
with an injury is much more complicated than that. Your body has
changed in ways that you had never
imagined possible. With physical
injuries come all kinds of changes,
not only in what you can do, but
also in how you perceive yourself
and life in general. As veterans,
many Legionnaires have returned
home from war with life altering
injuries and have gone through the
same kind of trauma. Other veterans were there for us – now it’s our
turn to be there for today’s men and
women who have gone into harm’s
way on our behalf. One of the best
ways to accomplish this is by having
your post become active with the
Legion’s “Heroes to Hometown”
program. A brand new H2H video
and training guide is being mailed to
every post and district commander.
This is an excellent tool to help your
post welcome our wounded heroes
back home through the front door.
Is your post on the post locator?
www.wilegion.org/post_locator
Post Publication Name _________________________________
CLASS
enough not to need a fulltime
hospital bed, but not able to return
to active duty, I was moved over
to the old three story building,
where two to four patients would
share a room. I was one of the few
Army guys there, so I was forced
to make friends with a couple of
Marine Sergeants who were shot
up like I was. The doctors gave
us trivial duties to try to keep us
busy, but most of the time it was
pretty boring. Well, except for the
fact that we shared a cafeteria with
the Waves training barracks … but
that’s another story. Anyway, I
was lucky enough to get weekend
passes home, which looking back
on it, really helped me readjust to
civilian life. I could go home, try to
forget what I’d seen or done and try
to pretend to be the same old me.
Then, I could return to the safety
of the hospital and my buddies. I
know that sounds a little strange,
but as Senator Dole said, “Coming
home from war is a longer journey
than any plane flight.”
It would be great if everything just
IV
V
VI
17752
© 2007 AGIA
March 9, 2009
BADGER LEGIONNAIRE & AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN”
PAGE 5
Americanism And Government Test Program
Martin “Marty” Czarnecki
Candidate for Department Sergeant-at-Arms
Martin “Marty”
Czarnecki is seeking
re-election as Department Sergeantat-Arms. This past
year he received the
“Badger Big 10” pin
for recruiting more
than ten new members into The American Legion Family.
Marty is a member
of Wolman- Minskey
Post 317 of Wautoma, which is
in Waushara County and the 8th
District. While serving as Post
Commander for four years, he
exceeded 100% Post membership each year. He has taken
on the added responsibility as
Waushara County Commander
for 2008-2009. He is a Paid up
for Life member. At all four past
National Conventions he was a
Department delegate and served
as assistant Sgt-at-Arms.
Marty and his wife Marian are
members of the Legion Riders.
This past August they rode in
support of The American Legion
Legacy Scholarship Fund from
Indianapolis, Indiana to Phoenix, Arizona.
Marty’s military career started
in 1954 at the age of 16, as an en-
listee in the Wisconsin National Guard’s
32nd Division. He
joined the active component of the Army
shortly after graduating from high school.
After completing
BCT and AIT as a
Medical Technician,
he served the next 30
months in Okinawa.
He attained the rank
of SSG during this tour overseas.
He, as a reservist, was called
to active duty for the Cuban
Crisis, and then for Operation
Desert Storm. After serving
more than 34 years in the Army
and the Air Force, he retired in
September 1991 at the grade of
CMSGT (E-9).
Marty was employed by the
Rexnord Corporation in West
Milwaukee for 35 years. Upon
retirement, he and Marian moved
to their home of retirement near
Wautoma. They have been married for 48 years and they have
one daughter, two sons, and five
grandchildren.
Marty has received the endorsement of Post 317, the
Waushara County Council, and
the Eighth District.
Arthur E. Angove
Candidate for Department Assistant Chaplain
I, Arthur E.
Angove, D.O., general surgeon, retired, of New Berlin and Chaplain of
American Legion
Post #488, hereby
announce my candidacy for Assistant Chaplain.
Born and raised in
Albia, Iowa; graduated from Westmar
College, Le Mars, Iowa 1955;
taught Biology, Chemistry
and Physics in Welton and
Reinbeck High Schools; postgraduate Physics, University
of Iowa; United States Air
Force Ground Observer Corp
Chief of JN54B post, Le
Mars, IA 1953-1955; Pastor
of Hopkins Grove United
Methodist Church 1959-1962;
Pastor of Garden Prairie Congregational Church, Madrid,
IA 1958-1962; Graduate Des
Moines University College
of Osteopathic Medicine and
Surgery 1962; Surgical Residency, Pontiac, MI 19621966; Chief of Surgery at New
Berlin Memorial Hospital
1968-1988; Urgent Care at St
Joseph’s Hospital, Milwaukee
1989-2001.
Sons: Steven,
certified master
automobile mechanic/technician.
Michael, US Marine 5 years, drywaller/carpenter/
bank accountant.
Daughters: Julie, RN, BSN, labor and delivery
nurse. Debra, music teacher, real estate agent.
Lori, high school art teacher.
Kristin, elementary school
teacher.
Retired on my birthday,
September 27, 2001 to care
for my wife Carmen until her
death from Parkinson’s disease complications on January
5, 2002.
Pilot, private, airplane land
and sea, single and multi-engine, instruments rated.
American Legion member
past 2 years Post 488 New
Berlin. Chaplain past year.
The pleasure of serving
as Chaplain to the American
Legion and the camaraderie
with fellow Legionnaires has
inspired me to announce my
candidacy.
The results of the 2008-2009
Americanism and Government Test
Program were announced during
the Americanism Committee meeting at the Mid-Winter Conference
in Marshfield. Bob Wipf, A&G
Test program chairman, reported
that the 2008-2009 program year
was very successful. The recent
trend of a decrease in school and
student participation was halted
and significant increases were reported. A total of 8,041 tests were
ordered for this program year, an
increase of 2,995 tests compared
to last year. The total number of
requests from schools this year was
91 schools, compared to 60 schools
in the 2007-2008 program year.
This represents a 70% increase in
school participation. Bob would
like to thank all the District and
local Post A&G Chairpersons for
the extra time and effort put into
this year’s event. It is because of
their efforts that this Department of
Wisconsin scholarship program is
once again an outstanding success.
The individual scholarship winners
are shown in the chart below.
As many of you know the A&G
Test program is changing its de-
livery format for next year. The
2009-2010 test will be administered
online through the Wisconsin Department website. It is the goal of
this new delivery format to further
increase the availability of the
scholarship program to even more
Wisconsin students. This format
change will cause some confusion and will require the support
of all Posts to get the message out
to schools and students. In future
months, there will be more information on how Posts can promote
this new A&G Test in their local
communities.
2008-2009 Americanism & Government Test
Department Scholarship Winners
Dist.
9
3
6
7
7
8
1
8
9
6
1
10
9
9
7
3
1
7
1
12
6
8
9
9
6
2
6
2
11
11
8
1
Post
258
360
165
201
52
502
310
502
11
126
91
154
258
258
116
433
310
201
310
303
234
117
39
38
234
189
234
189
182
183
117
310
Student Name
Heathwe Ohde
Alexander Vedvik
Jesse Dickman
Eric Rolland-Puente
Erin Harned
Melissa Weller
Bryan Joosse
Rebecca Twaroski
John Dyer
George Petrie
Aaron Lemieux
Sam Brunkow
Derek Hauser
Phillip Sanke
Christine Hardie
Robert Harlow
Nirv Pamaa
Steven Cox
Nicholas Kucera
Elizabeth Sweetry
Hannah Albright.
Ryan Williams
Jeff Lewis
Stanley Phillips
Phlip Clark
Emaleigh Berg
Zack Bachman
Dalton Kelman
Sara Woodie
Melissa Ertl
Ben Gorechi
Jenna Franseen
City, Little Chute
Waunakee
Francis Creek
Warrens
LaCrosse
Wittenberg
Racine
Birnamwood
Green Bay
Brillion
Oconomowoc
Mondovi
DePere
Appleton
Holman
Barneveld
Racine
Camp Douglas
Franksville
Couderay
Oshkosh
Clintonville
Marinette
Appleton
Omro
Watertown
Omro
Watertown
Park Falls
Park Falls
Shawano
Franksville
High School
Freedom HS
Waunakee HS
Mishicot HS
Tomah
Central HS
Wittenberg-Birnamwood
J.I. Case
Wittenberg-Birnamwood
Green Bay SW
Brillion HS
Oconomowoc HS
Mondovi HS
Freedom HS
Freedom
Holman HS
Barneveld HS
J.I. Case
Tomah HS
J.I. Case
Winter HS
Omro HS
Shawano
Marinette HS
Appleton North
Omro HS
Watertown HS
Omro HS
Watertown HS
Park Falls HS
Park Falls HS
Shawano
J.I. Case
Grade
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore
Score
40
38
37
37
36
35
35
35
33
33
32
32
38
37
35
35
32
31
31
30
30
29
35
31
30
30
30
29
29
29
29
28
Reunion Notice
Korean War Vet Reunion 999th AFA BN (Armored Field Artillery Battalion) “Never Die” Army Korea
1950-1954 will hold its 24th annaual reunion on September 11-13, 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Liverpool,
NY. Contact: Emanuele “Red” Falcone, 102 Sharon Rd, Syracuse, NY 13209. Phone: (315) 487-5361.
E-mail: [email protected].
Post 52 of La Crosse Send Off Party
Post 52 of La Crosse had a special send off party on December 1st for the 416th Engineer Command from Darien, IL. The unit left for Iraq the following week from Fort McCoy. Veterans from the Post and members of the 416th had a great time together that
evening. The above picture was taken in the back hall of Post 52 during the party.
PAGE 6
3 Antigo
Victor J Hanousek SrII
6 Stevens Point
Henry Becker
II
Lawrence Grant V
Norman Myhra
II
8 Waukesha
David F Armitage II
Robert J Davis Sr K
Ellis Hughes
II
Emmett E Mather II
9 Wisconsin Rapids
Gordon G Bednarek II
John Cole
V
James Fritz
II
Calvin Hagen
II
Roger Rickhoff
II
10 Wausau
Eugene Lambrecht K
Dolph Lehman
K
Jack Leon Lillie II
Donald Lyon
V
Roger Manowski K
Ronald E Revoir V
Leonard W Shulta II
Clayton E Stubbe, SrII
Norman L Westberg II
14 Iola
Dennis Gregerson V
Herbert Masshardt II
15 Juneau
Arthur Miller
K
19 Hartford
William SchoenherrII
William J Schuck V
21 Kenosha
George A Conwill V
Ralph E Kerr
K
Douglas R Mowry V
23 Milwaukee
Donald Booth Jr II
Mathew H Rogina II
26 Baraboo
Milton Angell
II
Richard Lautenbach V
27 Chippewa Falls
Melvin C Lavine II
Edward E Steinke II
33 Neenah
Lawrence J Socha II
35 Evansville
Roger S Gray
II,K
38 Appleton
Lawrence Behrent II
Harlow S Feavel II
Floyd P Hooyman II
John C Oberweiser II
Paul R Stumpf
V
Robert R Wire
II
42 Platteville
Walter Moran
II
Francis Vannatta II
50 Hudson
Kendall L Dow
V
Rodney E McSorley V
Raymond D PetersonII
52 La Crosse
Orin A Bakken
K
Francis A Elsen
II
Lee B Foley
II, K
Donald Kessel
II
Curtis R Olson
II
Ann Prince
II
Robert C Sheldon II
Grant Shorell
II
Lloyd M Smaby K
Pete Smaby K
53 Eau Claire
Gerald Steinke
II
60 Kimberly
BADGER LEGIONNAIRE & AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN”
1/29/09
1/17/09
12/14/08
1/16/09
2/5/09
2/16/09
1/27/09
2/7/09
6/16/08
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6/19/08
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1/14/07
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1/1/09
1/10/09
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2/11/09
2/12/09
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2/12/09
3/5/08
Jan 2009
12/16/08
12/10/08
11/6/08
2/8/09
1/15/09
2/2/09
1/14/09
12/1/08
1/25/08
12/12/08
1/1/09
1/4/09
1/12/09
Norbert Dresang II
Clifford Jansen
K
Theodore Maas
II
John R Schreiter II
Paul Van Eperen II
Robert Van Thull K
61 Prescott
Eugene F Bense V
70 Oshkosh
Gerald J Hintze
V
75 Fond du Lac
Ervin Giese
II
James Klee
II
Gustove Kocos
K
77 Chippewa Falls
Clarence E Fagner II
80 New Richmond
Curt Bulman
V
James E Mattila
V
85 Muscoda
Earl Marshall
II
Lavon W Williams K
89 Minocqua
Jack Sorenson
K
90 Ashland
Kenneth Johnson II
Norman Nicholson II
Emmer Shield
II
91 Oconomowoc
Arnold F Roth
II
David A Sauer
II
Earl Severson
II
95 Delavan
Wilbert Schubert II
Henry S Siok
II
96 Webster
Douglas Fouks
II
97 Dodgeville
James W Stoddard II
98 Cumberland
Kieth W Komarek II
Hubert Thoe
K
Loren Woolsey
II
110 New Lisbon
Thomas R McDermottK
Edward G Weglarz
117 Shawano
Eugene Hagel
II
Vern I Long
K
121 River Falls
Norris J Larson
K
122 Phillips
John M Neuhauser II
133 Camp Douglas
Gaylord Gerke
II
143 St Croix Falls
Ferney Holmquist II
Steven Schramski G/L
146 Beaver Dam
William L Radke II
154 Mondovi
Junior Bottler
K
Gordon N Litchfield V
Kenneth S Taylor II
161 King
Evalyn M Milner II
Warden A Owens II
167 Sauk City
Henry G Vinger
II
168 Glenwood City
Harold Anderson II
James DeSmith
Alvin Jeske
179 Chetek
Leroy Cook
K
Clarence Siewert K
Clarence Siewert K
182 Park Falls
John W Aman
V
Thomas Mallak
V
1/4/09
9/22/08
12/31/08
11/14/08
12/1/08
11/27/08
6/19/08
2/2/09
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2/1/09
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1/13/09
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11/2008
11/2008
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12/2008
12/2008
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1/12/09
12/26/08
1/8/09
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1/21/09
2/10/09
1/25/09
2/1/09
Jan 2009
Jan 2009
Lawrence Wehrman II
Joseph A Weis
II
Robert K Yirkovsky K
185 Grantsburg
Jon D Lysdahl
K
Elmer K Wicklund II
189 Watertown
Simon Caine
Arthur L Turke
196 Delafield
Leonard A Green K,V
Roger W Katzka V
Martin Porubcan II
Norman Simonis II
Elmer Zellner
II
May F Zinda
II
199 Reedsville
Orville H Schaeuble II
204 Ellsworth
Edwin L Jakes
II
Eugene F Langer II
205 Janesville
Eugene R Atwood II
Frederic D Hoesly V
John B Kennaugh II
Edwin E Schieve II
James R Wicker V
206 Wonewoc
Russel C Biermeier II
207 Elmwood
Norman E Schuster K
214 Darlington
David Frye
II
Joseph O’Brien
K
David F Ruf
V
James Swailes
V
215 Pardeeville
Elmer Crawford II
Ronald S Hill
II
Arthur L Rawson II
217 Bonduel
Larry C Reisner
V
219 Milwaukee
Chester F Bloor
Kenneth J Wehr
II
220 Soldiers Grove
Virgil Zajicek
II
230 De Pere
Lloyd W Magnuson K
238 Greenwood
Theodore Briski II
Frank L Govek
II
245 Cross Plains
Linus A Dahmen K
256 Monticello
Karl H Freitag
II
258 Little Chute
Roland Huss
K
263 New London
Robert M Stewart II
268 Bruce
Richard Mattison II
294 Hartland
Allen Stendal
2/4/09
11/30/08
10/20/07
2/8/09
2/2/09
1/28/09
1/2/09
2/15/08
12/15/08
1/13/09
8/8/08
1/10/09
1/9/09
12/29/08
12/26/08
12/29/08
1/14/09
1/19/09
2/7/09
1/15/09
11/21/08
2/8/09
12/14/08
12/17/08
1/14/09
11/20/08
1/25/09
1/9/09
1/21/09
Fall 08
12/31/08
2/1/09
1/19/09
1/17/09
1/10/09
1/31/09
1/6/09
2/5/09
2/15/09
1/21/09
1/27/09
295 Bloomer
Richard Revoir
K
296 Brookfield
Raymond B Cannon K
302 Oconto Falls
Raymond J Dumas II
Lawrence C MarguardtII
304 Palmyra
Eugene Novitke K
306 Green Lake
Steve E Bennett
K
310 Racine
Harry E Goodwin II
316 Sheldon
Walter R Brooks II
318 Lake Tomahawk
Lee P Fessenden II
Daniel Nehmer
K
John R Ring
K
Orville J Sabatke II
324 Osseo
Steven M Matz
K
James E Miller
II
331 Shorewood
Waldemar A Prus II
333 Sun Prairie
Norbert J Keller K
Merlin Wolfgram K
336 Onalaska
Harvey G Beyer II
Blaine Cox
II
Richard J Greene II
Robert Jenks
II
Lyle T Johnson
II
Lauritz Wittenburg II
347 Lomira
Neal Corcoran
II
Herbert Schulz
II
350 Reedsburg
Richard A Williams II
355 Grafton
George Golownia II
Fred Kaul
II
Albert Sudbrink II
372 Forestville
Dennis N Alberts II
377 Elcho
Warren J BriesemeisterK
388 Milwaukee
Henry V Brandt
II
390 Gresham
Louis Burr Jr
K
412 Belgium
Edwin L Bares
II
415 Milwaukee
Edward Kondracki II
Harold Reinett
II
416 Greendale
Paul E Van Rossum II
417 French Island
Phyllis A Fuchs
II
Goodwin Hass, Sr
Kermit Hicke
K
Paul J Mahoney
K
1/12/09
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2/10/09
10/1/08
1/27/09
1/5/09
1/15/09
1/31/09
2/14/09
12/1/08
11/26/08
10/7/08
8/2008
2/4/09
2/5/09
12/2008
1/3/09
1/3/09
1/4/09
2/2/09
2/10/09
2/2/09
5/16/08
2/8/09
2/4/09
1/18/09
2/3/09
1/9/09
1/9/09
1/20/09
1/11/09
9/30/08
1/9/09
2/2009
2/9/09
5/24/08
2/3/09
7/3/08
March 9, 2009
Donald W ThompsonII
422 Highland
Robert Imhoff
II
1/18/09
424 Mercer-Manitowish Waters
Ralph N Behnke K
1/22/09
428 Amberg
Francis W Beattie K
2/1/09
436 Wrightstown
Matthew L Fafnis P
1/18/09
Lloyd S Kloehn
1/23/09
444 Milwaukee
Kenneth Hagopian II
2/8/09
Donald Lisiecki
II
12/29/08
447 Viola
Ivan Kaukl
II,K
1/30/09
Rupert Koch
II
2/10/09
Granville McCauley K
11/26/08
Eldon Miller
K
449 Brookfield
Raymond B Ervin K
12/27/08
Jeanette Kapus
II
1/8/09
Anthony B Kuhry II
1/6/09
Robert J Miller
II
1/23/09
Walter R O’Malley II
Russel J Steinfest II
1/12/09
454 Mt Calvary
Donald Walters
K
12/15/08
456 Caroline
Derold F Bohren II
1/24/09
458 Wauzeka
Gordon D Ackley K
12/2008
460 Belleville
Paul W Ryan
II
1/3/09
461 Pembine
James E Kelly
1/21/09
470 Saukville
James A McDonald V
1/3/09
Arnold R Miller II
1/12/09
Reginald W Mueller II
10/31/08
Melvin A Reif
II
12/26/08
480 Presque Isle
George H Hahner K
2/8/09
Walter C Martin II
2/8/09
481 Madison
Robert H Kriel
K
1/14/09
484 Glenbeulah
Vincent Sippel
II
1/31/09
496 Sherwood
Ed Rogalska
V
2/4/09
499 Gordon
Douglas E EllingsenII
6/12/08
509 Rosholt
Phillip L LeClair II
1/17/09
522 Hubertus
Harvey Lederer
II
2/8/09
524 White Lake
Eugene G Wurzer SrII
2/4/09
527 Sister Bay
George Erickson II
1/23/09
534 McFarland
Melvin M Bollig K
2/13/09
544 Twin Lakes
Jerome J Neri
II
1/9/09
Did you know you can read the Badger
Legionnaire online at www.wilegion.org?
By opting out of receiving a print edition of the newspaper, you can save the Department money and get the
information sooner! The online edition of the Badger Legionnaire is usually available at least one week before
the paper arrives in your mailbox. Provide us with your e-mail address and we will notify you each month when
the latest edition is available on our site.
______ I no longer wish to receive the print edition of the Badger Legionnaire
2/6/09
Name: ________________________________________________________________
Jan 2009
Jan 2009
2/4/09
Member ID: ___________________________________________________________
2/5/09
1/5/09
1/5/09
12/30/08
1/9/09
(Your Member ID is located above your name on your Badger Legionnaire mailing label)
E-mail Address: ________________________________________________________
Please note: If there is an Auxiliary or SAL member in your household, they must also opt out of the print version or it will continue to be mailed to your home.
Mail this form back to: Wisconsin American Legion, PO Box 388, Portage, WI 53901 or you can e-mail the
information to [email protected].
March 9, 2009
BADGER LEGIONNAIRE & AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN”
PAGE 7
POW/MIA PROFILES
Service Member of the Month
LtC Douglas E. Downey
Lieutenant Colonel (LtC) Douglas E. Downey is the Operations
Officer of the 434th Fighter Training Squadron and has logged over
1,400 total single-seat fighter flight
hours. He is a qualified Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals
Instructor Pilot and is in charge
of producing over 45 new fighter
pilots for the Air Force each year.
LtC Downey was born in Milwaukee on February 5, 1971.
He attended Cedarburg High
School, graduating in June 1989.
He attended the United States
Air Force Academy (USAFA) in
Colorado Springs, CO. He earned
three NCAA varsity athletic letters
in football while competing at the
Division I level with the Air Force
Falcons in the Western Athletic
Conference. In June 1993, LtC
Downey graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree and was
commissioned into the USAF as
a Second Lieutenant.
Upon entering the USAF, LtC
Downey spent one year as an
academic instructor and football
coach at USAFA Preparatory
School. He was then assigned to
Travis AFB in California as a
Combat Logistics Officer where he
completed tours of duty in the Air
Transportation Operations Center
and as Commander of Traffic
Management Flight.
During his tour of duty, LtC
Downey completed a four month
deployment to King Abdul Aziz AB
in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and Rhein
Main AFB in Germany in support if
Operation Phoenix Jackal.
His next assignment was to
Headquarters Air Education Training Command (AETC) at Randolph AFB in Texas, where he
served on the AETC Logistics
Senior Staff. LtC Downey was accepted into Undergraduate Flight
Training (UFT) in June 1997 at
Laughlin AFB in Texas. Upon
completion of UFT in June 1998,
he was selected to attend F-16
flight training at Luke AFB in
Arizona. Upon graduation, he was
a fully qualified F-16 pilot and his
first “fighter” assignment was to
Aviano AB in Italy.
During his tour of duty, LtC
Downey was recognized for superior performance as the Wing
Flight Safety Officer by garnering
the 2002 USAFE Flight Safety Officer of the Year Award.
He flew in numerous international joint exercises and participated in Operations Joint Guardian
and Joint Forge while logging over
50 combat hours in Bosnia and
Kosovo. He accumulated 555 total
flight hours in the F-16.
LtC Downey was selected in
2003 to become an F-117 Stealth
pilot at Holloman AFB in New
Mexico. During his three year tour
at Holloman AFB, he recorded
over 350 flight hours in the F-117
and became an Instructor and
Functional Test Pilot. He was recognized for superior airmanship
with the Colligan Award for his
successful recovery of a severely
damaged F-117 over White Sands
New Mexico.
LtC Downey was involved in
numerous highly classified programs and mission executions
flying the F-117 in support of
National Security. He was also
hand-picked to execute the first
ever fly-by of the White House
and Washington Monument in the
F-117 in honor of our fallen heroes
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2004, LtC Downey was distinctly selected to serve as a Presidential Air Force One Agent to
execute responsibilities for the logistical and security aspects of Air
Force One and the protection of
the President of the United States.
He accomplished over 15 missions
in support of Air Force One and
President Bush world-wide.
LtC Downey was recently selected to serve as Chief of Flight
Safety Operations at the USAFA
and will assume that post in June
2009. His major military awards
include the Meritorious Service
Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf
Clusters, and Flight Safety Officer
of the Year (2002) United Air
Forces- Europe.
LtC Downey holds a Master’s
Degree in Aviation Business Administration from Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University (1998)
and is a current student at the Air
War College. He is married to the
former Deborah Rebecca Larsen
of Royal IA. They and their three
children, Avery, Jax, and Allie currently reside in Del Rio, TX.
LtC Downey is a member of
Peter Wollner Post 288 in Cedarburg. He was nominated for
Service Member of the Month by
his Post.
If you are interested in nominating an individual for Service
Member or the Month, please contact Jessika Erickson at jessika@
wilegion.org or (608) 745-1090.
The purpose of the State POW/
MIA Committee is to “provide increased awareness of POW / MIAs,
to organize the Department and
Posts’ POW/MIA activities and to
provide education to the public.” To
realize this duty, the profile of a WI
Veteran who is or has been classified
as POW/MIA will be presented each
month for your reflection. Matthias
Zerfas was born in Twin Lakes on
May 28, 1908. He attended St.
Alphonsus School in New Munster.
He went on to attend St. Francis
Seminary and was ordained a priest
on May 27, 1934. For many years,
he served St. Mary’s Church in
Fond du Lac, where he volunteered
for chaplain service in the Civilian
Conservation Corps. In 1940, he
was assigned to the regular Army
and attached to the 26th Calvary
Unit at Fort Benning, GA. His unit
shipped out to the Philippines after
the U.S. entered the war.
Father Zerfas chose to remain
with his men when given the opportunity to leave the Philippines
before the fall of Manila. In April
1942, the Japanese captured Manila and Father Zerfas was taken
prisoner along with many of his
comrades. Spared the incident of
the Bataan Death March, he was
Island to take on provisions on New
Years Day, 1945. On the morning
of Jan. 9, U.S. Naval Aircraft attacked the anchored ships. Three
bombs landed in the hold where
the prisoners were and about 280
were killed outright. Father Zerfas
had his left leg nearly blown off
at the knee. Those who survived
tried to care for him as best they
could as the Japanese would not
provide any medical supplies nor
would they evacuate the wounded.
Father Zerfas’ life ended three days
later around dusk on the evening of
January 11, 1945. He was buried
in a common grave on the beaches
of Tacao Bay, Formosa. The grave
was later discovered and the bodies
removed to the National Cemetery
in Hawaii. A military funeral was
later conducted at St. John’s Church
in Twin Lakes.
The Committee welcomes any
information that anyone may have
on a Wisconsin Veteran that has been
classified as MIA or was a POW.
Please contact Tom Ingram, Chairman, State POW/MIA Committee
at [email protected] or Robert
Miller, Vice Chairman at [email protected], (262) 279-6429
if you have any information to help
our endeavor. Thank you.
interned at Santo Thomas Prison
until Dec 12, 1944. During his time
at the prison camp, Father Zerfas
was a source of continual inspiration to the other prisoners. His
daily routine began around 5 a.m.
to give mass. At 7, he would begin
delivering milk to 600 patients in
the dysentery ward. He spent the
rest of the day visiting patients and
giving them spiritual direction.
On Dec. 12, 1944, Father Zerfas,
along with 1600 other American
Prisoners were loaded in the holds
of two ships in Manila Harbor
heading to Formosa. The ships
put into Takao Harbor, Formosa
Attention: All Past Commanders
Past Commanders Club of Wisconsin
Come join the Past Commanders Club of Wisconsin for a life-time fee of only $30.00. Just fill out the
attached application and mail it to me, along with the $30.00 fee to:
Ronald Kaun, Adjutant
7901 S. Scepter Dr., Unit #4
Franklin, WI 53132-2244
Please note, the membership card must include the Applicant’s name and home address. If this is a gift,
include a separate note where this should be sent. The Life-time Membership card and pin will be forwarded to the designated person as soon as possible. The sum of $30.00 must accompany this application.
If paying by check, make it payable to the Past Commanders Club of Wisconsin.
application for membership in the
past commanders’ club
of wisconsin
A Social Organization of Past Commanders
The American Legion
Date _____________________
I, _________________________________________________________ a member in good standing
in ___________________________________ Post No. _________, City of ____________________
The American Legion Department of _________________ hereby make application for membership
having served as Commander of _____________________________________ Post No. __________
City of _________________________ Department of _________________________ Year ________
Date of Birth:
Month ________ Day ________ Year ________
I certify that the above applicant served his Post.
County or Department in the capacity as stated.
___________________________________________
Recommended by
PCC or
Legion Member.
SIGNED ________________________
Member Address ________________________
City and State ________________________
*The sum of $30 must accompany this application.