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Dear Friends,
Thank you once again for the Christmas cards and words of encouragement. That is what keeps
us going.
It been a rough year weather-wise and has kept us indoors most of the time. We look forward to a
break at the New York Luncheon in May.
The plans and tours for the reunion are now finalized. More later in the newsletter. The lady we
were dealing with at the Holiday Inn has left the hotel (we were not told she was planning on
moving) but we do have a contract so all is well and her substitute seems very competent.
DUES – Dues are very slow coming in and I remind you we can not survive without them. So if you
have not submitted your dues, please do so as soon as you can. I hate sending out those dreaded
reminder letters, plus it adds more expense to our budget.
SUPPLIES – We are making inquiries regarding the request by Frank DeRosa to get golf type
shirts. They are more expensive than tee shirts. I had a meeting with my supplier and we think we
have a less expensive but good quality shirt we can purchase.
EXHIBITS – As you all know the exhibits have grown throughout the years. We have to find a way
to either downsize or limit those items shown at the reunions. Elliott Becker has been fantastic in
transporting exhibits to every reunion using his van. Liz and I also transport a large quantity of
items.
Elliott is downsizing from a van to a car and may not be able to continue bringing the large items. It
will then fall to us to fill the gap and we only have so much room. It is a solvable problem but it will
take a lot of thought and effort. Any ideas folks???? PLEASE.
BATTALION – We received a letter from the Battalion CSM along with some pictures. They both
follow in the newsletter.
LETTER OF APPRECIATION – I was indeed pleased to get a nice letter from Mr. Bobby Huggins in
reply and appreciation of our donation. He assured me it was put to good use at the Veterans
Hospital. He and his group do a great deal with very little and fill the gap left by the federal effort
for our returning injured soldiers and all Vets. Bobby and his group expend a great amount of
effort and time to this worthwhile cause.
If anyone wishes to donate or help in any way they can contact Bobby direct at – Commander
Bobby J. Huggins, Disabled American Veterans, Newton-Rockdale Chapter 55, Covington, GA.
Anyone wishing to contact Bobby please write to his home address at 454 County Line Rd. W.,
Covington, GA. 30016, or phone (770)-787-7698.
Thank you again, Bobby from all at this Association.
PS Bobby, you are behind in your dues, (LOL)
PROPOSED MINI-REUNION – Oklahoma City.
Last year, one of our members – Greg Zito proposed a mini reunion for the members of his
Company who served together in Germany, similar to the Luncheon in New York or the Chicago
meetings.
Mr. Jack Davis, Oklahoma City had taken over the job of organizing this event, but had suggested
expanding this to a full blown Spring Reunion in May as well as suggesting an annual Spring
Reunion in other areas.
I CANNOT support any expansion which would need to be placed before the members at our
Annual Reunion in September.
In my humble opinion, this Association could not support two (2) Annual Reunions and would tend
to split the membership, whether intended or not. We certainly could not support a second reunion
financially.
Secondly, if there were two reunions, and the membership should split their support this would
lessen the benefits we now enjoy, by way of discounts, etc. from hotels and Visitors Bureaus,
simply because there would be fewer attendees.
I have written to Mr. Jack Davis and outlined what is involved and why this plan would not work and
would cause damage to this Association.
Liz and I have tried VERY hard to build on the ideas outlined by Art and Gerda Sherokow and on a
solid foundation put in place by Frank and Dolly DeRosa. I cannot in all good conscious allow that
to be fragmented by others, no matter their intentions, without a vote at the Annual Reunion.
Anything less would be a step backwards.
Since the writing of this report, I was notified that the proposed expansion of the gathering has
been scaled back to what was suggested by Greg Zito. I am leaving my report intact as I wish
those members that may paint me as the Bad Guy and Spoiler of an event, to know the facts.
My loyalty is to the general membership and I must in all good conscious do the best I can for
them. This idea should have been brought up for a vote before any large scale plans were put in
place, without membership approval.
HOTEL – The Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport (Northern Kentucky) is a beautiful property and have
gone overboard to provide us with all we requested. We requested that a full breakfast be served
in our Hospitality Room or in the area next to our Hospitality Room, and management agreed
without hesitation (shades of the Crowne Plaza, Washington, D.C.). Breakfast is included in our
room rate of $92.00, which if one was to deduct the breakfast price, it would give us a room rate of
$70.00. Not bad at all considering their normal room rate is $159.00. I do not think there will be
one person attending that will not like or love this property.
Thank you all for your kind attention.
SICK CALL – If you know of a member, husband or wife, who may be ill, please let us know. We
need that information to send cards. The Chicago group was hard hit in 2007/08. Our thoughts
and prayers are with them and all of our ill comrades.
Should anyone have an item for the newsletter, please submit to Ann Wenzel, and space allowing,
she will put it in.
OTHER REUNIONS – Information from Don Henderson, 508th MP. Bn. Assoc. They are having
their annual reunion in Branson,MO on May 1st to 7th at the Ramada Inn. Drop-ins welcome.
Thank you for reading the newsletter, read it carefully so as not to miss the reunion details. We try
and make it as interesting as possible, but the mailing by bulk limits the content. Ann, as always
does an expert job in putting it together.
This is your Association, please make an effort to attend the reunion.
Best regards to all.
Richard Kealy
BENEFITS FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED A PURPLE HEART MEDAL
We received a letter from member William Haner with the following information.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs in their 2007 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans and
Dependants place veterans who have been awarded a Purple Heart Medal in Priority Group 3.
The Priority Groups range from 1 through 8 with Priority Group 1 being the highest. I found no
information that expanded the benefits for Priority Group 3 Veterans. However, I visited the Bath
Medical Center in Bath, New York and was advised that Veterans who have been awarded a Purple
Heart Medal are exempt from paying any co-pay benefits received including domicile.
My concern is that there may be many veterans who received a Purple Heart during one of the
several military operations like WW II, Korea, Vietnam, etc. and were then discharged with no major
medial problems and have not kept themselves informed on benefits which they are eligible for.
Veterans who have received a Purple Heart Medal and have not enrolled with the V.A. in their area
should do so as soon as possible. As we age, even though we may not need medical assistance
now, the benefits are there when needed. If the enrolment is completed without further delay, the
way to V.A. benefits when needed should be quick and easy.
The proof of the award of the Purple Heart Medal should be recorded on the discharge from
service and is probably all the proof needed to effect enrollment through the local V.A. medical
center.”
Information from Battalion CSM
Mr. Kealy:
Attached is a sampling of the recent training we did in preparation for our deployment. I am putting
more together that I hope to send soon. All is well with the Soldiers in the battalion. As usual we
are busy preparing for our upcoming rotation to Iraq. As I get the mailing address in Iraq for the
battalion I will provide it to you. Once in Iraq we will begin a monthly newsletter. I will make every
effort to ensure you get a copy of the newsletter.
Thanks for all your continued support.
CSM Eric D. Hodges, 793rd MP Battalion, SPARTAN 7
Thank you once again for the Christmas cards and words of encouragement. That is what keeps
us going.
It been a rough year weather-wise and has kept us indoors most of the time. We look forward to a
break at the New York Luncheon in May.
The plans and tours for the reunion are now finalized. More later in the newsletter. The lady we
were dealing with at the Holiday Inn has left the hotel (we were not told she was planning on
moving) but we do have a contract so all is well and her substitute seems very competent.
DUES – Dues are very slow coming in and I remind you we can not survive without them. So if you
have not submitted your dues, please do so as soon as you can. I hate sending out those dreaded
reminder letters, plus it adds more expense to our budget.
SUPPLIES – We are making inquiries regarding the request by Frank DeRosa to get golf type
shirts. They are more expensive than tee shirts. I had a meeting with my supplier and we think we
have a less expensive but good quality shirt we can purchase.
EXHIBITS – As you all know the exhibits have grown throughout the years. We have to find a way
to either downsize or limit those items shown at the reunions. Elliott Becker has been fantastic in
transporting exhibits to every reunion using his van. Liz and I also transport a large quantity of
items.
Elliott is downsizing from a van to a car and may not be able to continue bringing the large items. It
will then fall to us to fill the gap and we only have so much room. It is a solvable problem but it will
take a lot of thought and effort. Any ideas folks???? PLEASE.
BATTALION – We received a letter from the Battalion CSM along with some pictures. They both
follow in the newsletter.
LETTER OF APPRECIATION – I was indeed pleased to get a nice letter from Mr. Bobby Huggins in
reply and appreciation of our donation. He assured me it was put to good use at the Veterans
Hospital. He and his group do a great deal with very little and fill the gap left by the federal effort
for our returning injured soldiers and all Vets. Bobby and his group expend a great amount of
effort and time to this worthwhile cause.
If anyone wishes to donate or help in any way they can contact Bobby direct at – Commander
Bobby J. Huggins, Disabled American Veterans, Newton-Rockdale Chapter 55, Covington, GA.
Anyone wishing to contact Bobby please write to his home address at 454 County Line Rd. W.,
Covington, GA. 30016, or phone (770)-787-7698.
Thank you again, Bobby from all at this Association.
PS Bobby, you are behind in your dues, (LOL)
PROPOSED MINI-REUNION – Oklahoma City.
Last year, one of our members – Greg Zito proposed a mini reunion for the members of his
Company who served together in Germany, similar to the Luncheon in New York or the Chicago
meetings.
Mr. Jack Davis, Oklahoma City had taken over the job of organizing this event, but had suggested
expanding this to a full blown Spring Reunion in May as well as suggesting an annual Spring
Reunion in other areas.
I CANNOT support any expansion which would need to be placed before the members at our
Annual Reunion in September.
In my humble opinion, this Association could not support two (2) Annual Reunions and would tend
to split the membership, whether intended or not. We certainly could not support a second reunion
financially.
Secondly, if there were two reunions, and the membership should split their support this would
lessen the benefits we now enjoy, by way of discounts, etc. from hotels and Visitors Bureaus,
simply because there would be fewer attendees.
I have written to Mr. Jack Davis and outlined what is involved and why this plan would not work and
would cause damage to this Association.
Liz and I have tried VERY hard to build on the ideas outlined by Art and Gerda Sherokow and on a
solid foundation put in place by Frank and Dolly DeRosa. I cannot in all good conscious allow that
to be fragmented by others, no matter their intentions, without a vote at the Annual Reunion.
Anything less would be a step backwards.
Since the writing of this report, I was notified that the proposed expansion of the gathering has
been scaled back to what was suggested by Greg Zito. I am leaving my report intact as I wish
those members that may paint me as the Bad Guy and Spoiler of an event, to know the facts.
My loyalty is to the general membership and I must in all good conscious do the best I can for
them. This idea should have been brought up for a vote before any large scale plans were put in
place, without membership approval.
HOTEL – The Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport (Northern Kentucky) is a beautiful property and have
gone overboard to provide us with all we requested. We requested that a full breakfast be served
in our Hospitality Room or in the area next to our Hospitality Room, and management agreed
without hesitation (shades of the Crowne Plaza, Washington, D.C.). Breakfast is included in our
room rate of $92.00, which if one was to deduct the breakfast price, it would give us a room rate of
$70.00. Not bad at all considering their normal room rate is $159.00. I do not think there will be
one person attending that will not like or love this property.
Thank you all for your kind attention.
SICK CALL – If you know of a member, husband or wife, who may be ill, please let us know. We
need that information to send cards. The Chicago group was hard hit in 2007/08. Our thoughts
and prayers are with them and all of our ill comrades.
Should anyone have an item for the newsletter, please submit to Ann Wenzel, and space allowing,
she will put it in.
OTHER REUNIONS – Information from Don Henderson, 508th MP. Bn. Assoc. They are having
their annual reunion in Branson,MO on May 1st to 7th at the Ramada Inn. Drop-ins welcome.
Thank you for reading the newsletter, read it carefully so as not to miss the reunion details. We try
and make it as interesting as possible, but the mailing by bulk limits the content. Ann, as always
does an expert job in putting it together.
This is your Association, please make an effort to attend the reunion.
Best regards to all.
Richard Kealy
BENEFITS FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED A PURPLE HEART MEDAL
We received a letter from member William Haner with the following information.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs in their 2007 edition of Federal Benefits for Veterans and
Dependants place veterans who have been awarded a Purple Heart Medal in Priority Group 3.
The Priority Groups range from 1 through 8 with Priority Group 1 being the highest. I found no
information that expanded the benefits for Priority Group 3 Veterans. However, I visited the Bath
Medical Center in Bath, New York and was advised that Veterans who have been awarded a Purple
Heart Medal are exempt from paying any co-pay benefits received including domicile.
My concern is that there may be many veterans who received a Purple Heart during one of the
several military operations like WW II, Korea, Vietnam, etc. and were then discharged with no major
medial problems and have not kept themselves informed on benefits which they are eligible for.
Veterans who have received a Purple Heart Medal and have not enrolled with the V.A. in their area
should do so as soon as possible. As we age, even though we may not need medical assistance
now, the benefits are there when needed. If the enrolment is completed without further delay, the
way to V.A. benefits when needed should be quick and easy.
The proof of the award of the Purple Heart Medal should be recorded on the discharge from
service and is probably all the proof needed to effect enrollment through the local V.A. medical
center.”
Information from Battalion CSM
Mr. Kealy:
Attached is a sampling of the recent training we did in preparation for our deployment. I am putting
more together that I hope to send soon. All is well with the Soldiers in the battalion. As usual we
are busy preparing for our upcoming rotation to Iraq. As I get the mailing address in Iraq for the
battalion I will provide it to you. Once in Iraq we will begin a monthly newsletter. I will make every
effort to ensure you get a copy of the newsletter.
Thanks for all your continued support.
CSM Eric D. Hodges, 793rd MP Battalion, SPARTAN 7