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EX-POW BULLETINAmerican Ex-Prisoners of War

We exist to help those who cannot help themselves

Volume 64 Number 5

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May 2007

Inside...MidYear Highlights...National Conventioninfo...News, Outreach, Events...NSO success stories...and more

Armed Forces Day, May 19, 2007

AXPOW Vests!

The uniform of the American Ex-POWs consists of themilitary cap and the vest. These vests are custom-made withyour name on the front, and your chapter and logo shield onthe back. Orders take approximately six weeks to complete.Order now to wear at National Convention!

$50.00 each, includes shipping/handling

For pins, vest guards and other items to “dress up” your vest, order

from the merchandise page inside.

Top l/r 1-3: Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution honored Vietnam former POW Navy Cmdr.Douglas Clower and Helen Smith, National Historian during the convention in Houston March 16, 2007. Dougreceived the DAR Medal of Honor Award; Helen received the Service for Veterans Award. L/R: Elmo Baker,USAF (Ret), Douglas Clower USN (Ret), Sally Patterson, TSDAR Americanism Chair, TSDAR Regent Lynn ForneyYoung, Helen Smith, Bill Gauntt USAF (Ret), Charles Stackhouse USN (Ret). Helen with her award. Helen withSgt. Shawn Monroe.

Below: Our own Frank Kravetz was chosen as Citizen of the Year in Chalfant, PA for his decades of workhelping fellow veterans around the country. Here he is, among his memorabilia, holding a model of his B-17;The Mahoning County Fair and the Canfield Harness Horsemen’s Assn. sponsored a “Salute to VeteransDay”. Our AXPOW Chapter (#13) was singled out and honored. They donated a blanket to the winninghorse in the race program. Presenting the blanket: Ike Spack, Norm Swaney and Cmdr. Chuck Myers.

Midyear in Washington, DC

Ordered to

destroy their

American

Flag by their

Japanese

captors, Paul

Spain and his

comrades

saved and

hid the stars.

When

airdrops

brought food

at war’s end,

they used

cloth from

parachutes

and an

old sewing

machine to

make this

flag.

George

Bush Gallery,

Museum of

the Pacific

War, Nimitz

State Histori-

cal Park,

Fredericksburg,

TX.

Thanks to AliceBooher forsubmitting thispicture.

national commander

Robert W. Fletcher

Ex-POW BulletinMay 2007

3

Fellow Former POWs, Family Mem-bers, and Friends,

As I write this, spring is coming tothe northern part of the countryand the Mid-Year meeting tookplace a few days ago in Washing-ton, DC.

Most of your Board members actu-ally arrived in Washington on Tues-day, March 27. The reason is that2 bills of great interest to formerPOWs have been introduced intothe new Congress. HR 1197 wasintroduced into the House of Rep-resentatives by Representative GusBilirakis, and S 848 was introducedinto the Senate by Senator PattyMurray. Both of these bills requestthat diabetes and osteoporosis beapproved as presumptive illnessesfor former POWs. Now the work ofgetting other Senators and Repre-sentatives to sign on as co-spon-sors of these bills begins. There-fore, on both Wednesday andThursday the Board went by busto Capitol Hill to meet with indi-vidual Representatives and Sena-tors for the purpose of gaining ad-ditional support for these bills.

In addition, I had the privilege ofmeeting with the Senate Demo-cratic Steering Committee onWednesday, along with about 15representatives of other veterans’service organizations. The meetingwas chaired by one of my Senators,Debbie Stabenow, whom I already

know. The meeting was well at-tended by more than a dozen Sena-tors, all of whom expressed greatconcern about a number of press-ing issues affecting veterans andthe need to increase funding forservices to veterans.

On Thursday I presented AXPOW’sofficial testimony to a joint meet-ing of the House and Senate Veter-ans Affairs Committees chaired byRepresentative Filner and SenatorAkaka. Thursday afternoon mywife and I had the opportunity toattend the ceremony in the CapitolRotunda in which President Bushand many other distinguishedspeakers honored the TuskegeeAirmen, 32 of whom were alsoPOWs.

The Mid-Year meeting itself washeld on Friday. All of your Boardmembers were in attendance butone, who could not travel due todoctor’s orders. EdwardKazmierczak was appointed as areplacement for Leonard Rose forNational Director from the Mid-Central region, and GroverSwearingen will take over for JimClark as Chair of the Nominationsand Elections Subcommittee.Vernon Ray and Edward Dostiehave agreed to serve as additionalSergeants at Arms.

Unfortunately, the Board remainsdeeply divided between two fac-tions, so there was a lot of conten-tion and dissension throughout theday, especially related to our finan-cial status and whether changesshould be made to AXPOW’s oper-ating structure. The Board didagree that the cost of membershipsfor annual and life membersshould be raised. They voted toincrease annual dues to $40.00 forsingles/$50.00 for couples. ThePublications Guidelines committeethen requested and received Boardapproval to increase the subscrip-tion price of the Bulletin for non-members. The Ways and MeansCommittee will also be consideringhow to best approach current lifemembers for additional donations.

ND Ed De Ment reported on a pro-posal to establish a traveling ex-hibit from the National POW Mu-seum in Andersonville so thatpeople around the country can gainmore knowledge about POWs. Af-ter costs are established, possiblesources of funding will be pursued.

After working with Frank Koehler,Chair of the Job Descriptions Com-mittee, George Coker presented re-vised job descriptions for all of thepositions, both paid and unpaid,that are associated with AXPOW.Several proposals were also re-ceived that will be presented foryour vote at the National Conven-tion. Details on these will follow ata later date.

As for myself, I will now begin at-tending as many of your state con-ventions as possible. Unfortunatelysome of them overlap so I will notbe able to attend them all, but I ap-preciate your invitations. I plan togo to those in Hawaii, Tennessee,South Carolina, and California thismonth, as well as attending theCongressional Advisory BoardCommittee meeting in WashingtonDC April 16-18. I look forward tomeeting many of you in my trav-els. In the mean time, please takeit upon yourself to contact yoursenators and representative andask them to co-sponsor S848 andHR1197.

Fletch

Cmdr. Fletcher joined President George W.

Bush and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

in honoring 300 Tuskegee Airmen in Statu-

ary Hall. White House photo by Eric Draper.

axpow officers & directors 2006-2007National Headquarters - Clydie J. Morgan, Adjutant

3201 E. Pioneer Pkwy, #40, Arlington, TX 76010(817) 649-2979 (817) 649-0109 fax [email protected]

North East RegionFranklin R. Koehler243 Torrey Pines Dr.Toms River, NJ 08757(732) 244-4629; (732) 505-8702 [email protected]

Laura McIntyrePO Box 475Hardwick, MA 01037(413) 477-8260 (413) 477-0172 [email protected]

East Central RegionPaul E. Galanti21 Maxwell RoadRichmond, VA 23226(804) [email protected]

William J. Richardson5125 Lake Valley DriveFayetteville, NC 28303(910) 864-7318; (910) 487-5100 fax(910) 867-0359 [email protected]

Southeast RegionEdward L. DeMent8735 Doral Oaks Dr., #1617Temple Terrace, FL 33617(813) 985-3783; (813) 989-8871 [email protected]

Ray Van Duzer14157 89th Ave. NSeminole, FL 33776(727) 593-1813(727) 319-5914 [email protected]

North Central RegionCarroll Bogard726 N. Carolina PlaceMason City, IA 50401(641) 424-4870

Larry Dwyer814 Woodlawn Ave.Muscatine, IA 52761(563) 263-5249

Senior Director, Gerald Harvey1504 West 5th St.Sedalia, MO 65301(660) [email protected]

National CommanderRobert W. Fletcher1331 S. ZeebAnn Arbor, Michigan 48103734-663-8649; 734-663-4960 fax

[email protected]

National Senior Vice CommanderCharlie Hill729 Olive StreetColumbia, SC 29205-1853(803) [email protected]

National TreasurerSonnie Bill Mottern706 1/2 North Lynn AvenueElizabethton, TN 37643(423) 543-3135; (423) 543-6221 [email protected]

National Judge AdvocateGeorge Coker1145 Wivenhoe WayVirginia Beach, VA 23454-3047(757) [email protected]

National ChaplainJohn Romine1609 S. 23rd StreetRogers, AR 72756(479) 636-2287

Jr. Vice CommandersWarren G. King, Sr. - Eastern Zone1015 Mitchell Rd.Nashville, TN 37206-1113(615) 226-7811

Kenny H. Hanson - Central Zone9401 Lyndale Ave. S #228Bloomington, MN 55420(952) [email protected]

Frank Burger - Western Zone9500 Harritt Road #197Lakeside, CA 92040(619) [email protected]

Mid-Central RegionGrover L. Swearingen408 Fair Park AvenueWest Union, OH 45693(937) 544-2459 phone & [email protected]

Ed ‘Kaz” Kazmierczak3754 Elvera LaneWarren MI 48092(586) 268-1954

South Central RegionMorris Barker4010 E. EvergladeOdessa, TX 79762(432) [email protected]

Howard Ray7507 Legend RockSan Antonio, TX 78244(210) 661-5911; (210) 661-8837 [email protected]

Northwest RegionHerbert C. Kirchhoff2910 Fernan Ct.Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814(208) [email protected]

Gwen Warren3235 99th Ave NEBellevue WA [email protected]

Southwest RegionRalph Kling15895 Puesta Del Sol LaneRamona, CA 92065-5600(760) 789-3339 phone & [email protected]

Lawrence Strickland35109 Hwy 79 South #63Warner Springs, CA 92086(760) [email protected]

DirectorsOfficers

Committee addresses appearwith their columns

EX-POW Bulletin (ISSN 0161-7451) is published nine times annually (Jan. Feb. Mar./Apr. May June July/Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov/Dec.) by the American Ex-Prisonersof War, 3201 E. Pioneer Pkway, Arlington, TX 76010. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, TX and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes toEX-POW Bulletin, AXPOW Headquarters, 3201 E. Pioneer Pkwy. Suite 40, Arlington, TX 76010-5396. Founded April 14, 1942, in Albuquerque, NM, then knownas Bataan Relief Organization, Washington State nonprofit corporation, “American Ex-Prisoners of War”, October 11, 1949, recorded as Document No. 133762,Roll 1, Page 386-392. NONPROFIT CORPORATION. Nationally Chartered August 10, 1982. Appearance in this publication does not constitute endorsement bythe American Ex-Prisoners of War of the product or service advertised. The publisher reserves the right to decline or discontinue any such advertisement.

© 2007 American Ex-Prisoners of War

EditorCheryl Cerbone

23 Cove View DriveSouth Yarmouth, MA 02664

(508) 394-5250(508) 760-2008 [email protected]

Deadline for the July, 2007 issueis May 25, 2007.

Please send all materials to theeditor at the above address.

Commander 3Directors/Officers 4On Capitol Hill 6Outreach/Success 7NSO 8MedSearch 9Andersonville 12NamPOW 13POW-MIA 14Civilian 15Events, Info/News 16Convention 18Congressional Testimony 20News Briefs 21Members Forum 22Contributions 24New Members/Chaplain 25TAPS 26Raffle/Ads 31Application 33Quartermaster 34

May 2007table of contents

Ex-POW Bulletin

May 2007

5

Cover: Armed Forces Day, May 19, 2007. President Harry S. Truman led theeffort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thankour military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced thecreation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, MarineCorps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from theunification of the Armed Forces under one department — the Department ofDefense.

And another Pueblo Correction: I was so proud of myself when I made the correction in the March/Aprilissue. THEN, I received a note from the “real” Earl.Cheryl,There was more than one “Earl” aboard the Pueblo! I don’t need to see myname in print but, I was the one who called you and said we were all “Starvedand Tortured”. Earl Kisler just got his face pulverized by the North Koreans.Glad it wasn’t this Earl!Earl Phares USNR (RET).

And following that...Cheryl. You had stated in the article that the Pueblo was moved throughinternational waters with “NO ATTEMPT to recapture.” This was SO COR-RECT, that I just let the rest slide. Rather than more complaints about word-ing, I chose to compliment another critical point! It was also noted in thatsame article that the Pueblo crew was made to wait for their POW (medal)ribbon.Point taken, but just turn the page in that same January 2007 issue. (see page6)I do respect Dr. Charles A. Stenger, PhD AXPOW for his sacrifice and work,however, his POW mortality tables on page 6 cause me great frustration.How many times and how many people, including yourself, have I complainedto about those numbers?They DO NOT include the crew members, “navy, marine and civilian” of theUSS PUEBLO. Those numbers are accessed and reported to as official factby many groups including and in particuar the Department of Veteran Af-

fairs!From time to time, his numbers include us BUT only as a sub-note....I was so thrilled that you would take on the State Department with yourcomments on the “uninhibited Pueblo movement to Pyongyang...” ...how-ever, your “conscience” has his back up AGAIN! :-)Dale RigbyIvins, UTCrew memberUSS PUEBLO AGER-2

on capitol hillLes Jackson, Executive Director

National Capitol Office

1722 Eye Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20421

PO Box 30324, Bethesda, MD 20824

(202) 530-9220; (202) 223-8818 fax

(301) 951-0048 home; e-mail: [email protected]

Charles Stenger, Ph.D, Legislative Co-Chairman

5709 Brewer House Circle, Rockville, MD 20852

(301) 231-7555

Mary Rolen, Legislative Co-Chairman

7450 Spring Village Dr. CC510

Springfield, VA 22150

(703) 923-9444

Ex-POW Bulletin

May 2007

6

What a greeting! This attractive blonde threw her armsaround Commander “Fletch” and gave him a big hugand then did the same with our “First Lady”, Carol. Thedemonstrative lady was none other than the Jr. Senatorfrom Michigan, Debbie Stabenow, Chairperson of theDemocratic Steering and Outreach Committee. The nextgreeting by Carl Levin, the Sr. Senator from Michigan,while more statesman-like, also generated lots of smilesand laughter.

This took place at an early morning meeting in the Capi-tol Building during our MidYear. All the VSOs were in-vited to sit at the table and share ideas and concernswith the Senators, many of whom don’t serve on theVeterans Affairs Committee, but nonetheless were in-terested enough in the issues to come bright and earlyto meet with veterans.

Subjects discussed among the VSOs and Senators werethe basic questions of money and budget for the VA.There seemed to be complete agreement that manda-tory funding for the VA is a must this session. We heardstatements including, “The budget has to be increasedbecause today’s veteran is different… different prima-rily for economic reasons”, and “Today’s veteran shouldhave a G.I. Bill”. The impression I got from the meetingsand hearings is that Congress is more pro-veteran thanit has been in years. I encourage you to contact yoursenators and representatives and urge them to cospon-sor our bills while the sentiment is strong.

The day’s events continued for the Fletchers. They arewell known among the legislators in Michigan and Sena-tor Levin gave them two tickets to the noon ceremonyin the Capitol Rotunda honoring the Tuskegee Airmenof WWII fame, who were presented with the Congres-sional Gold Medal, the highest award honoring civilians.President Bush and Colin Powell were in attendance andspoke at the ceremony. Festivities included a luncheonat the Library of Congress.

Washington was certainly in full bloom for the Veteransthis spring – from the demonstrated support on the Hillto the cherry blossoms surrounding the Tidal Basin.

Les

On March 27th, the Board of Directors arrived in Wash-ington for the MidYear meeting. Only one Board Mem-ber because of illness did not get to come. Immediatelywe gave out materials and directions for the next twodays of working Capitol Hill. On Wednesday, we pro-ceeded to visit all three House of Representatives andtried to see as many as possible. As our new bills hadbeen introduced a few days earlier, we wanted to obtainas many cosponsors as possible for our HR 1197 and S848 introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL) and SenatorPatty Murray (WA) for our last two presumptives – Os-teoporosis and Diabetes. Everyone worked diligently andas of today it is difficult to get the cosponsors as theHouse is out for Easter recess until the 17th and the Sen-ate until April 10th. As soon as I know, I will be contact-ing your National Directors to relay to you until my nextBulletin. However, it is important that YOU, and I meanYOU, for you to contact your Representative and twoSenators in their home offices. They are in contact withthe Washington Office by email and phone several timesa day and your voices will be heard! So your help isneeded!

Then on Thursday, we attended the Senate and HouseJoint Veterans Affairs Hearing where CommanderFletcher testified together with seven other VeteransService Organizations. After the testimony/hearing, weagain tried to talk with as many Senators to ask for theircosponsoring our bill, S848. Please remember that thecurrent cost would be minimal due to the diminishingnumber of POWs still alive who might have these twomedical problems. Also, only a small portion are likelyto seek these benefits or are already rated 100% dis-abled due to other problems. There would be no addi-tional cost factor.

I do believe the hard work will pay off if we just con-tinue to contact the members of Congress in the inter-est of all former prisoners of war.

If there is anything the National Capitol Office can dofor you, please call the office. We certainly will try!

Mary

VA Outreach

S*O*O*N

Before it’s too late

NSO Fred Campbell, Chairman 3312 Chatterton Dr.San Angelo, TX 76904325-944-4002; [email protected] members:NSO Frank Kravetz (412) 824-2674;ND Bill Richardson (910) 864-7318


7

OUTREACH HighlightsUnusual Opportunities

Amazing things come unexpect-edly. It happens with Outreach toformer POWs and survivingspouses. Because of WE! WE’ve allgot to be alert and working to-gether, as we bring enhanced lifeto many former POWs and surviv-ing spouses. WE all need to be alertto find those who are not aware ofVA benefits due them.

Unexpected.Recently at the close of Sundayworship, Joan Smith stopped to askhow I was doing. I told her I washappy to be busy daily, at 84, help-ing former POWs and their widowspresent their claims to the VA. Shesaid, “My father was shot downover Italy in 1944; he and two otherbomber crewmen were hidden byItalian partisans, and eventually gotback to the American lines. Butthere were two they thought werecaptured by the Germans; my fa-ther never knew what happened tothem.”

Joan called me later to give me thenames of the two missing officers.One I could never find; but I putthe other on the internet, an un-common name. There was only onein the whole USA, and his givennames was Charles, the name of themissing crewman. I called theBinghamton, NY number and askedfor him. “I’m sorry to tell you myhusband passed away five years

ago.” “Was he a prisoner of war inGermany?” “Yes, he was, for tenmonths.” “Did he ever go to theVA?” “No, he never did.” “What didhe die of, according to the deathcertificate?” “Severe Stroke.”MAGIC WORDS, a POW service-con-nected cause. Mrs. C’s claim hasnow gone to the Buffalo, NY VAROand she will be receiving herwidow’s benefit she knew nothingabout, as well as the ChampVA freeMedicare supplement she needsvery much.

Outreach calls to new widows inJan/Fed TAPS columns in Bulletin:

By these NSOs: Frank Kravetz &Don Lewis, PA; Les Jackson, MD;Melanie Bussel, NY; KarnigThomasian, NJ, Jeanne Copeland,AZ; Gordon Larson, TX; BettyGrinstead, IA; Irwin Stovroff, FL;Paul Dallas, NC; Mary Rolen, VA;Doc Unger, OH; Jim Aujian, CA;Curtis Campbell, IL; Lawrence King,SC; Fred Campbell, MO/WV/MN/LA/MT/KY. Plus POW CoordinatorsGinger Raney, TX and NancyMullins, MS who check on those intheir VA regions.

Exceptional Outreach:

NSOs Wren and Jo Bowyer camerecently from CA to Temple, TX fora few months’ sojourn.

Wren said, “I’m 88 and bored.” Itdidn’t take long for Wren and Jo toundertake an unusual Outreach,with great cooperation from theWaco VARO. With the assistance ofNSO W.T. Jones of Georgetown,they have tried to contact 71 POWswho had a disability rating of lessthan 100%. Now at least 20 morePOWs stand a good chance of get-ting 100%! Accolades to Wren & Jo,plus W.T. Jones and the WacoVARO.

And an update:

Mr. H. in Austin, TX had a 20%VADisability rating as a former POW;he had had that for more than 50

years. Wren Bowyer talked to himand filed with the Waco VARO toupgrade this man’s disability rat-ing. Waco VARO set up examina-tions for im at the Temple TX VAMedical Center. Then he said hecould not leave his invalid wife formore than two hours to go the 70miles to Temple for his examina-tions. Temple VAMC persisted, andis setting up his appointments atthe VA Clinic in Austin, so he willnot be gone more than two hoursfrom his wife on any day of his ex-aminations. They are determined toget this man the VA benefits duehim as a former POW, after all theseyears without. Thanks to Wren andJo, Waco VARO, Temple VAMC andthe Austin VA Clinic.

Success

Letter from Omaha, NE:

Upon reading the February EX-POWBulletin, I noticed an item from theNorth Carolina woman thankingyou. I thought, did I thank you forwhat you did for me? I meant to,but did I? It was a year and a halfago, and when you called, I remem-ber asking if your call was impor-tant, and you replied “Yes”. So dueto my hearing problem I had youtalk to my daughter. Thus, my

widow’s benefit and ChampVA! Iam deeply grateful. Life has beenmade easier for me as a widow.Thank you again, Mary Jo W.

Letter to ND Morris Barker,Odessa, TX:

Mr. Barker, I am one of 20,000members who have enjoyed the EX-POW Bulletin for so many years.After my husband died, thingswere hard, living on Social Security.Every month, I had to dip into mysmall bit of savings to pay all thebills. I was worried all the time

nso

Doris Jenks

National Service Director1120 Daleside Lane

New Port Richey, Fl. 34655

(727) 372-7238 - Home

(727) 319-5914 - Office

[email protected]


8

DIC (Dependents and IndemnityCompensation) Base Monthly Rate- $1,067Add: $228 if AT THE TIME of thePOW veteran’s death the POW vet-eran was in receipt or entitled toreceive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totallydisabling (including rating basedon individual unemployability) fora continuous period of EIGHT yearsimmediately PRECEDING deathAND the surviving spouse wasmarried to the POW for that sameperiod.If the surviving spouse is entitledto A&A, add $265.If the surviving spouse is entitledto Housebound, add $126.

Who is Eligible for DIC?To get DIC, you must be an eligiblesurvivor of a veteran who died be-cause of a SERVICE-CONNECTEDillness or injury.If the veteran’s death was not ser-vice-connected, you may still beeligible if one of the following con-ditions existed at the time of death:If the veteran died AFTER Sept. 30,1999 and was getting VA Disabil-ity Compensation for a total dis-ability for the last ONE YEAR ANDWAS A FORMER POW.If the veteran died BEFORE Sept. 30,1999 and was getting VA Disabil-ity Compensation for a total dis-ability for the last TEN YEARS.OR...the veteran was getting VADisability Compensation for a to-tal disability continuously since re-leased from active duty and for atleast 5 years.

You may be an eligible survivor if:you were married to the veteran forat least year (Note: If a child wasborn, there is no time requirement,AND your marriage was valid ANDyou lived with the veteran continu-ously until his/her death.

A&A: Aid and AttendanceThis benefit is an additional mon-etary allowance available to veter-ans and their spouses, who requirecare in a long-term care setting,such as a nursing home. A&A ben-efits may also be available to vet-erans who reside outside of a nurs-ing home, but who require the dailyassistance of another to live inde-pendently.Requirements: The veteran must bedetermined to be “permanently andtotally disabled”.The VA will generally accept a let-ter from the person’s personal doc-tor as to the veteran’s disability.The letter should state that theperson has an incapacity which re-quires care or assistance on a regu-lar basis to protect the claimantfrom the hazards or dangers inci-dent to his daily environment. Theveteran does not need to be help-less - he/she need only show thathe/she is in need of aid and atten-dance on a regular basis.A patient in an assisted living fa-cility is presumed to be in need ofAid and Attendance.

HomeboundThis benefit is an additional mon-etary allowance available to veter-ans and their spouses who are notso disabled as to require the regu-lar Aid and Attendance or anotherperson but who, because of disabil-ity are permanently housebound.

The revised application form 21-534, has now included a question“Was the veteran a Former Prisonerof War?” This should get the ap-plication to the proper area in theVA for them to expedite the form.But in spite of this, due to the back-logs in the VA, be prepared to waita few months for the checks forDIC to arrive.

outreach cont...

what would happen when my sav-ings were gone. One day, I read inthe Bulletin of the possibilities forwidows’ benefits. I called the Out-reach Chairman and talked to him.He had Nancy Mullins from the VAin Jackson, MS call me, and shesoon had the wheels turning. Itdidn’t seem like any time until I gotmy first big check. It seemed like agift from God, and surely could notbe happening to me.

My life is not the same. I have peacethat I had not known. I can paybills, and not worry about them. Iwant to thank all the people whohave helped to make our lives morepleasurable. Nancy Mullins iscertainly a loving, caring lady whomade sure I got my benefits. Tohelp with more worthy outreach, Ipledge $25.00 each month andchallenge others to give a portionof their benefits to help keepAXPOW alive and well. It is ablessing to have the feeling ofindependence again.

THANK YOU FOR THE GOODWORK YOU DO.

Sincerely, Mary Leota S. of MS, for-merly of Odessa, TX.

A third widow inquiring fromMarion, NC, all chain word ofmouth outreach. Former POW hus-band died in 1988, “Could I be eli-gible for a benefit? Death cause wascirrhosis of liver disease.” Gotclaim to POW coordinator JeffHenderson of Winston-Salem onFeb. 28, 2007. Thirteen days later,Jeff calls, “I’ve found heart troublein his records too, and ou can tellthis lady she has her benefits.” Ahappy lady with her DIC andChampVA Medicare supplement.

pow medsearchND Lawrence Strickland, Chairman

e-mail: [email protected]

35109 Hwy 79 South #63

Warner Springs, CA 92086

(760) 782-0538

Packet #5 (What Every POW’s Wife Should Know Before She is Your Widow) has been updated again, with much time and efforton the part of Marlene Agnes, to include the most recent laws and benefits published. The packet may be purchased from NationalHeadquarters. Cost of the updated packet is $15.00~includes S/H.


9

Drug Interactions:What You Should Know

By The Council on Family Healthin cooperation with the NationalConsumers League and the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.

Medicines can treat and cure manyhealth problems. However, theymust be taken properly to ensurethat they are safe and effective.Many medicines have powerful in-gredients that interact with thehuman body in different ways, anddiet and lifestyle can sometimeshave a significant impact on adrug’s ability to work in the body.Certain foods, beverages, alcohol,caffeine, and even cigarettes caninteract with medicines. This maymake them less effective or maycause dangerous side effects orother problems.

Drug interactions may make yourdrug less effective, cause unex-pected side effects, or increase theaction of a particular drug. Somedrug interactions can even beharmful to you. Reading the labelevery time you use a nonprescrip-tion or prescription drug and tak-ing the time to learn about druginteractions may be critical to yourhealth. You can reduce the risk ofpotentially harmful drug interac-tions and side effects with a bit ofknowledge and common sense.

When you take medicine, be sureto follow your doctor’s instructionscarefully to obtain the maximumbenefit with the least risk. Changesin a medicine’s effect due to an in-teraction with food, alcohol or caf-feine can be significant; however,there are many factors that influ-ence the potential for such varia-

tions, like dose, age, weight, sex,and overall health. If you have anyquestions or concerns about pos-sible drug interactions, consultyour health care professional.

Make sure your doctor and phar-macist know about every drug youare taking, including nonprescrip-tion drugs and any dietary supple-ments such as vitamins, mineralsand herbals. If you have problemsor experience side effects relatedto medication, call your health careprovider right away.

Drug interactions fall into threebroad categories:

Drug-drug interactions occur whentwo or more drugs react with eachother. This drug-drug interactionmay cause you to experience anunexpected side effect. For ex-ample, mixing a drug you take tohelp you sleep (a sedative) and adrug you take for allergies (an an-tihistamine) can slow your reac-tions and make driving a car oroperating machinery dangerous.

Drug-food/beverage interactionsresult from drugs reacting withfoods or beverages. For example,mixing alcohol with some drugsmay cause you to feel tired or slowyour reactions.

Drug-condition interactions mayoccur when an existing medicalcondition makes certain drugs po-tentially harmful. For example,if you have high blood pressure youcould experience a reaction if youtake a nasal decongestant.

Drug Interactions and Over-the-Counter MedicinesOver-the-counter (OTC) drug labelscontain information about ingredi-

ents, uses, warnings and directionsthat is important to read and un-derstand. The label also includesimportant information about pos-sible drug interactions. Further,drug labels may change as new in-formation becomes known. That’swhy it’s especially important toread the label every time you use adrug.

The “Active Ingredients” and “Pur-pose” sections list:

the name and amount of eachactive ingredientthe purpose of each active in-gredient

The “Uses” section:tells you what the drug is usedforhelps you find the best drug foryour specific symptoms

The “Warnings” section providesimportant drug interaction andprecaution information such as:

when to talk to a doctor or phar-macist before usethe medical conditions that maymake the drug less effective ornot safeunder what circumstances thedrug should not be usedwhen to stop taking the drug

The “Directions” section tells you:the length of time and theamount of the product that youmay safely useany special instructions on howto use the product

The “Other Information” sectiontells you:


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required information about cer-tain ingredients, such as sodiumcontent, for people with dietaryrestrictions or allergies

The “Inactive Ingredients” sectiontells you:

the name of each inactive ingre-dient (such as colorings, bind-ers, etc.)

The “Questions?” or “Questions orComments?” section:

provides telephone numbers ofa source to answer questionsabout the product

Learning About Drug InteractionsTalk to your doctor or pharmacistabout the drugs you take. Whenyour doctor prescribes a new drug,discuss all OTC and prescriptiondrugs, dietary supplements, vita-mins, botanicals, minerals andherbals you take, as well as thefoods you eat. Ask your pharma-cist for the package insert for eachprescription drug you take. Thepackage insert provides more in-formation about potential drug in-teractions.

Before taking a drug, ask your doc-tor or pharmacist the followingquestions:Can I take it with other drugs?Should I avoid certain foods, bev-erages or other products?What are possible drug interactionsigns I should know about?How will the drug work in mybody?Is there more information availableabout the drug or my condition (onthe Internet or in health and medi-cal literature)?

Know how to take drugs safely andresponsibly. Remember, the druglabel will tell you:

what the drug is used forhow to take the drughow to reduce the risk of druginteractions and side effects

If you still have questions afterreading the drug product label, askyour doctor or pharmacist for moreinformation.

Remember that different OTCdrugs may contain the same activeingredient. If you are taking morethan one OTC drug, pay attentionto the active ingredients used in theproducts to avoid taking too muchof a particular ingredient. Undercertain circumstances — such as ifyou are pregnant or breast-feeding— you should talk to your doctorbefore you take any medicine. Also,make sure you know what ingredi-ents are contained in the medicinesyou take. Doing so will help you toavoid possible allergic reactions.

Examples of Drug InteractionWarningsThe following are examples of druginteraction warnings that you maysee on certain OTC drug products.These examples do not include allof the warnings for the listed typesof products and should not takethe place of reading the actualproduct label.

Drug InteractionInformation

Acid Reducers H2 Receptor Antagonists(drugs that prevent or relieve heart-burn associated with acid indiges-tion and sour stomach)

For products containingcimetidine, ask a doctor or phar-macist before use if you are:

· taking theophylline (oralasthma drug), warfarin(blood thinning drug), orphenytoin (seizure drug)

Antacids(drugs for relief of acid indigestion,heartburn, and/or sour stomach)

Ask a doctor or pharmacist beforeuse if you are:

· allergic to milk or milkproducts if the productcontains more than 5 gramslactose in a maximum dailydose

· taking a prescription drug

Ask a doctor before use if youhave:

· kidney disease

Antiemetics(drugs for prevention or treatmentof nausea, vomiting, or dizzinessassociated with motion sickness)


· taking sedatives or tran-quilizers


· a breathing problem, suchas emphysema or chronicbronchitis

· glaucoma· difficulty in urination due

to an enlarged prostategland

When using this product:· avoid alcoholic beverages

Antihistamines(drugs that temporarily relieverunny nose or reduce sneezing, itch-ing of the nose or throat, and itchywatery eyes due to hay fever orother upper respiratory problems)

Ask a doctor or pharmacist beforeuse if you are taking:

· sedatives or tranquilizers· a prescription drug for high

blood pressure or depres-sion


· glaucoma or difficulty inurination due to an en-larged prostate gland

· breathing problems, suchas emphysema, chronicbronchitis, or asthma


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When using this product:· alcohol, sedatives, and tran-

quilizers may increasedrowsiness

· avoid alcoholic beveragesAntitussives Cough Medicine(drugs that temporarily reducecough due to minor throat andbronchial irritation as may occurwith a cold)


· taking sedatives or tran-quilizers


· glaucoma or difficulty inurination due to an en-larged prostate gland

Bronchodilators

(drugs for the temporary relief ofshortness of breath, tightness ofchest and wheezing due to bron-chial asthma)

Ask a doctor before use if you:· have heart disease, high

blood pressure, thyroid dis-ease, diabetes, or difficultyin urination due to an en-larged prostate gland

· have ever been hospitalizedfor asthma or are taking aprescription drug forasthma

Laxatives(drugs for the temporary relief ofconstipation)


· kidney disease and thelaxative contains phos-phates, potassium, or mag-nesium

· stomach pain, nausea, orvomiting

Nasal Decongestants(drugs for the temporary relief ofnasal congestion due to a cold, hayfever, or other upper respiratoryallergies)

Ask a doctor before use if you:· have heart disease, high

blood pressure, thyroid dis-ease, diabetes, or difficultyin urination due to an en-larged prostate gland

Nicotine Replacement Products(drugs that reduce withdrawalsymptoms associated with quittingsmoking, including nicotine crav-ing)

Ask a doctor before use if you:· have high blood pressure

not controlled by medica-tion

· have heart disease or havehad a recent heart attack orirregular heartbeat, sincenicotine can increase yourheart rate


· taking a prescription drugfor depression or asthma(your dose may need to beadjusted)

· using a prescription non-nicotine stop smoking drug

Do not use:· if you continue to smoke,

chew tobacco, use snuff, oruse other nicotine-contain-ing products

Nighttime Sleep Aids(drugs for relief of occasional sleep-lessness)

Ask a doctor or pharmacist beforeuse if you are:· taking sedatives or tran-

quilizers


· a breathing problem suchas emphysema or chronicbronchitis

· glaucoma· difficulty in urination due

to an enlarged prostategland

When using this product:· avoid alcoholic beverages

Pain Relievers(drugs for the temporary relief ofminor body aches, pains, and head-aches)

Ask a doctor before taking if you:· consume three or more al-

cohol-containing drinks perday

(The following ingredients arefound in different OTC pain reliev-ers: acetaminophen, aspirin,ibuprofen, ketoprofen, magnesiumsalicylate, and naproxen. It is im-portant to read the label of painreliever products to learn about dif-ferent drug interaction warningsfor each ingredient.)

Stimulants(drugs that help restore mentalalertness or wakefulness duringfatigue or drowsiness)

When using this product:· limit the use of foods, bev-

erages, and other drugsthat have caffeine. Toomuch caffeine can causenervousness, irritability,sleeplessness, and occa-sional rapid heart beat

· be aware that the recom-mended dose of this prod-uct contains about as muchcaffeine as a cup of coffee

To order one copy of this booklet,write:Federal Citizen Information CenterItem #527MPueblo, CO 81009www.pueblo.gsa.gov

Andersonville

Andersonville NHS496 Cemetery RoadAndersonville, GA 31711(229) 924-0343Fred Boyles, [email protected]


12

Andersonville Trust

Makes Grants to Park

By Fred Boyles

At its annual meeting on March 1,2007, the Trustees of the Anderson-ville Trust made nine grants to thepark totaling $62,500 for a wide va-riety of projects. Several of thegrants went to support initiativesfrom the previous year while otherswere new projects.

Three projects funded were for pro-motion of the park to attract morevisitors. One project was to place abillboard along Interstate 75 visibleto southbound traffic. This billboardwill be tied to an AM radio transmit-ter that provides travelers with moreinformation about the park by tun-ing in the signal. The park will usethe grant to apply for matchingfunds from the Georgia Departmentof Tourism. This is similar to thegrant made a year ago by the Trustto place a billboard on the interstatevisible to northbound traffic. TheTrustees funded equipment neededto produce small displays to beplaced in motels in the region. Thesedisplays will encourage motel gueststo visit the park and museum. An-other promotional grant was made

to create a modest advertising fundthat will be used to advertise in printpublications. National Park Serviceregulations do not allow spendinggovernment funds for advertising.

Several grants were made to supportvolunteer work and projects. Thoseincluded a partnership with the Geor-gia Arborists Association to providemuch needed care for the trees in thepark, support for the Luminary eventplanned for March 2008, and the everpopular efforts of groups to placeflags at the park for Memorial Day.Another project was to continue an-other year in funding for curatorialsupport. This project allows the parkto employ a college intern to workdeveloping temporary exhibits, pro-cessing acquisitions and working totranscribe oral histories.

The Trustees expressed strong sup-port of the park’s partnership withGeorgia Southwestern State Univer-sity through the annual POW/MIAForum. The first ever forum washeld at the University in Americusin September 2006 with great suc-cess. The forum planned for 2008 isexpected to build and expand on theprogram last year. A grant for thisprogram was given.

The final and largest grant made tothe park was a new initiative to planand develop a traveling exhibit aboutthe American prisoner of war story.A traveling exhibit will be a smallerversion of the National POW Mu-seum and putting it on the road toshare with other museums and sitesacross the country. The park seeksto use funds donated by the Trustto be matched by the President’sCentennial Initiative. This programproposed by President Bush in Feb-

ruary will make $100 million avail-able yearly for eight years to matchfunds by private support groups.The first grant of this project is thefirst of three planned and will takethat many years to develop. Moreinformation about this excitingproject will share in the futurethrough the Ex-POW Bulletin.

The Andersonville Trust was createdas an endowment fund 11 years agoto provide long term support to thepark. Each year the Trustees hearproposals from the park for enhance-ment projects that the park cannotsupport with normal funding. As anendowment fund, donated moniesare placed in investments that pro-duce income that is granted yearlyto the park. In 2004 the Trusteesadopted a new investment strategythat resulted in a doubling of yearlyincome and funds granted to thepark. The corpus of the Trust is val-ued at over $ 1 million. Regular giftsto the Trust continue to be donatedfrom a wide variety of sources.

“Growth of the Andersonville Trustand improved management of thefunds has allowed us to do more forthe park than ever before.” statedMark Stibitz, President of the Friendsof Andersonville, “I am especiallyexcited about the prospect of a trav-eling exhibit that will share the POWstory with a larger audience andqualify us for President Bush’s Cen-tennial Initiative matching funds.”

The park and Friends will develop amemorandum of agreement for theexpenditure of the funds granted.According to procedures followed bythe Trustees the monies will not beavailable to the park until July 1,2007. Anyone wishing to donate tothe Andersonville Trust can do so bymailing a tax deductible gift madepayable to the Andersonville Trustat PO Box 186, Andersonville GA

31711.

Photo: In 2006 the AndersonvilleTrust made grants to the park to pro-duce 12 displays to place in each ofthe Georgia State Welcome Centers to

encourage visitors to come to the parkand visit the National Prisoner of WarMuseum. They are in place and hav-ing a positive effect.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


13

NamPOW news

Paul E. Galanti804.675.5213 (o)804.675.5218 (fax)804.389.1668 (cell)[email protected]

Behind the Code - Bravo Zulu

More Navy signal code than thosewho served in Marine, Army or AirForce uniforms really need to knowbut bear with me!

From the Navy.mil website: Theterm originates from the Allied Sig-nals Book (ATP 1), which in the ag-gregate is for official use only.

Signals are sent as letters and/ornumbers, which have meanings bythemselves sometimes or in certaincombinations. A single table in ATP1 is called “governing groups,” thatis, the entire signal that follows thegoverning group is to be performedaccording to the “governor.” Theletter “B” indicates this table, andthe second letter (A through Z)gives more specific information.

For example, “BA” might mean“You have permission to . . . (dowhatever the rest of the flashinglight, flag hoist or radio transmis-sion says) “BZ” happens to be thelast item in the governing groupstable. It means “Well Done.”

Well Done, indeed and not in thesense that meat is overcooked.

BZ, Bravo Zulu, means your perfor-mance was outstanding.So I’m an-nouncing in this column the BravoZulu Award to go to someone whodoes incredibly good work for noother reason that is something that

needs to be done and nobody elseis doing it. That’s it. No pecuniaryaward. No banner headline in thelocal fish wrapper.

Nothing except get a Bravo Zulu,Well Done from an admiring formerPOW. This first award goes to ourvigilantes - those who track downand expose those who would ridethe glory of the service of others.They’re called “phonies.”

A phony is somebody who claimsto be something he isn’t - usuallyclaiming military bravado or ac-complishments they haven’t actu-ally achieved. There are, of course,laws against so doing but in an eraof permissive moral relativism,many are reluctant to get involvedin debunking the phonies.

Phonies claim to be Navy SEALs,Fighter pilots, Special Forces, Ma-rine Force Recon or any similar dif-ficult to achieve designation. Pho-nies have myriads of medals -Purple Hearts, for sure, and up tothe Medal of Honor.

Re: Bravo Zulu Awards, There areseveral who deserve them but thefirst Bravo Zulu Awards go to Viet-nam POW and past president ofNam-POWs, Navy Capt. (Ret) MikeMcGrath and Administrators of thePOW Network, Chuck & MarySchantag for exposing phonies.Their efforts have been spectacu-lar and often result in a public hu-miliation of the “perp.”

Additionally, recently, the Con-gress has passed a bill making it afelony to falsify one’s militaryrecord. Much of the effort behindthe legislation came from frustra-tion in priorities of law enforce-ment and the VA wherein thoseagencies assigned too low a prior-ity to these cases.

Why is it important? With bona fidePOWs having trouble getting ben-efits they are owed, it is criminalthat frauds could achieve thosebenefits without doing anything to

earn them. Our seriously woundedveterans sometimes have troublegetting credit for their injuries ifcertain documents cannot be foundwhere occasionally phonies willforge documents to get the benefitsthe bona fide wounded veteran isdenied.

Mike McGrath has personally ex-posed a phony Air Force Colonelwho was a regular “duty hero” atthe Air Force Academy - appearingin uniform with medals, wings andother accoutrements that werenever earned. Mike showed up onhis doorstep with a local TV re-porter to ask a few questions. The“colonel” was outed and has beenbanned from the Academygrounds.

Mary & Chuck Schantag have ex-posed thousands of phonies in-cluding many phony POWs. Theirwebsite, http://pownetwork.orgremains the definitive site on theinternet for uncovering phonies.Their uncovered phonies areposted for all to see - some withseveral entries.The whole sordidstory is on the Schantag’s website.

Also is an annotated version of theDPMO PMSEA (Personnel missing inSoutheast Asia) list which includesadditional information on each ofthose who’d been listed as miss-ing during the Vietnam conflict.Take a peek.

And Bravo Zulu to Capt. McGrathand to the Schantags for a job very“Well done.”

The converse to the Bravo Zuluaward is the Bravo Sierra Award.I’ll leave it to your imaginationwhat “BS” means. But stand by forthose awards specially designed forbamboozlers who are the oppositeof those accorded the BZ award.

pow-mia

PNC John Edwards,

Chairman889 Randall Road

Niskayuna, NY 12309-4815

(518) 393-3907 phone & fax


14

POW/MIA car-window decals areavailable at a cost of $20 per 100by sending a check to the Leagueoffice at 1005 North Glebe Road,Suite 170, Arlington, VA 22201.POW/MIA lapel pins are alsoavailable at $3 each or 2/$5. Foradded information please contactthe League’s web site atwww.pow-miafamilies.org or callthe national office at 703-465-7432. If no one is available totake your call, please leave amessage.

U.S. PERSONNEL MISSING FROMTHE VIETNAM WAR

There are now 1,787 US personnellisted as missing and unaccountedfor by the Department of Defense.The accounting for these Ameri-cans brings to 796 the number ofUS personnel accounted for sincethe end of the Vietnam War in1975. Over 90% of the 1,787 stilllisted as missing were lost in Viet-nam or in areas of Laos and Cam-bodia under Vietnamese wartimecontrol.

The identifications of the Ameri-can previously missing/unac-counted for from the Vietnam Warwas recently announced:

Colonel Norman D. Eaton, USAF,OK, MIA 1/13/69, Laos, RR 12/16/05, ID 11/20/06

DASD CHARLES RAY RETURNSFROM SOUTHEAST ASIA

Ambassador Ray recently com-pleted his first visits to Cambodia,Laos and Vietnam since being ap-pointed DASD late last year. South-east Asian government officials, USAmbassadors and JPAC wereknown to be eagerly anticipatinghis involvement and leadership onthe issue. Ambassador Ray plansto hold a briefing on his trip in Feb-ruary for family and veterans grouprepresentatives. Late last year, hevisited Moscow to reinforce to theRussian Government the impor-tance of naming a Russian Chair-man as counterpart to US ChairmanGeneral Robert H. Foglesong, USAF(Ret).

UPDATE ON JPAC OPERATIONS

Field operations related to WWIIwill occur in Thailand late Febru-ary and are continuing in PapuaNew Guinea and Palau, preceded byoperational talks that were con-cluded by JPAC Commander BGMichael Flowers.

A DPMO-led team recently com-pleted talks in Beijing focused onpursuing an archival research pro-gram and restoring field operationsthere. There was little to report onspecific results; however, the PRCagreed to consider all issues raisedby the US, and it likely will taketalks at a higher level to get a morepositive relations.

Finally, a JPAC team recently re-turned from South Korea and dis-cussions on renewed joint opera-tions to begin later this year, plusdiscussions are ongoing for agree-ment with Japan to pursue remains

recovery at a highly visible site onIwo Jima.

SOLDIER MISSING IN ACTIONFROM THE KOREAN WAR IS IDEN-TIFIED

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO)announced that the remains of aU.S. serviceman, missing in actionfrom the Korean War, have beenidentified and returned to his fam-ily for burial with full military hon-ors.

He is Cpl. Jimmie L. Dorser, U.S.Army, of Springfield, Mo. He wasburied in Lake Forest, Ca.

Dorser was a member of I Com-pany, 3rd Battalion, 31st InfantryRegiment, 7th Infantry Division (or-ganized into the 31st RegimentalCombat Team). The RCT was en-gaged against the Chinese People’sVolunteer Forces along the ChosinReservoir, North Korea from Nov.27-Dec. 1, 1950. The unit wasforced to retreat to the south andmany men were reported missingin action under the intense enemyfire.

In 2002, a joint U.S.-DemocraticPeople’s Republic of North Korea(D.P.R.K.) team, led by the JointPOW/MIA Accounting Command(JPAC), excavated a mass grave onthe eastern side of the Chosin Res-ervoir. The remains of five indi-viduals were recovered.

Among other forensic identifica-tion tools and circumstantial evi-dence, scientists from the JointPOW/MIA Accounting Command(JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNAIdentification Laboratory also usedmitochondrial DNA and dentalcomparisons in Dorser’s identifica-tion. The additional remains can-not be attributed to specific indi-viduals at this time and will un-dergo further analysis.

civilians

Ex-POW Bulletin

May 2007

15

Ted Cadwallader - Chairman9501 Nut Tree Ct. Elk Grove, CA 95624(916) [email protected]

Part II: Chick Parsons and SantoTomas Internment Camp (STIC)By Peter ParsonsBaguio, Philippines

During his stay in STIC, Chick Par-sons’ effort to escape the Philip-pines via diplomatic channels wasbeing opposed by Claude Buss, theman left in charge of handling allAmerican affairs; Buss brandedChick as another opportunisticAmerican who should stay herewith everybody else. Sometimelater, after Chick had returned toSTIC as a now-famous resistancefighter and organizer of guerrillasfor General MacArthur, he wrotehome a wry mention that when hedid leave STIC in early June, 1942,there were several internees whowere not so happy with his depar-ture.

Buss, however, was absolutely cor-rect in his assessment of Chick: he

was opportunistic, and he did gethis whole family out on a Japanesehospital ship (the Ural Maru) toFormosa; then to Shanghai by Japa-nese bomber; and then to New Yorkafter two ocean legs, one on theConte Verde, the other on theGripsholm. [Although I was person-ally sad to leave my Amah, mydachshund, and our four sentries,I had seen Japanese beat and killpeople and knew that their pres-ence was not benign.]

Soon thereafter Chick was back inthe Philippines on a submarine, thefirst of many such penetrations. Hewas working now for MacArthureven though he was a commanderin the USN.

Although Chick was often seen inManila itself, sometimes dressed asa Catholic priest, I doubt that heever re-entered Santo Tomas againuntil after its liberation.

He was spotted by an internee,Mary Davies, when she was in aJapanese bus taking her to Philip-pine General Hospital for medicalcare not available at STIC. Helooked up at her when the busstopped and said, “Howdie, Mary.”

And Reggie Spear says that he wasbriefed by Chick on the naval out-post at Mios Woendi, a tiny islandin Indonesian waters, prior to hisown submarine trip and subse-quent visit to STIC. He told me that“Chick had been there and knewthe ways in and out of Manila,” butI take that merely to mean thatChick had once been interned atSTIC.

Chick’s re-acquaintance with SantoTomas and his many friendstherein occurred shortly after theFebruary 3, 1945 liberation of thecamp.

Chick, who had no longer any con-tact with submarines, now had afleet of four gunboats that werewreaking havoc among the Japa-nese in the Visayas (Seventh FleetTask Group 71) and continuing thejob of supplying guerrillas and ci-vilians with arms and medicine.

General MacArthur, however,brought Chick up to Manila and puthim in charge of bringing food ona daily basis to the internees andother refugees now seeking shel-ter there. His message of Feb. 7reads in part:

“…to Commander Par-sons. Arrange for movement byair transport such food andother emergency supplies asmay be set up by G4, PhilippineSection for relief of Americancivilian internees. Initial ship-ments 9,000 pounds daily…Planto air drop 5-6,000 pounds dailyat Los Banos as soon as campthere is liberated by our forces.”

On Feb 8, Chick was already land-ing planes on Espana Avenue infront of STIC. Of course he was nowworking with his old pal and busi-ness partner, Col. Pete Grimm, thenew “commandant” at STIC.

Reconnect with Long-LostFriends In Our UpcomingMembership Directory.Make sure you are in the book.

Watchyour mail

fordetails!

events and information

events


16

May 1-3, 2007. Stalag 17B AnnualReunion will be held at the HotelArizona in Tucson, AZ. For reserva-tions: 800-845-4596. For more infor-mation, call reunion chairman VincePale, 214 E. Hudson Ave., Villas, NJ08251; 609-886-0923;[email protected]. Or LydiaDostie, 941-475-5378;[email protected].

May 8-10, 2007. The Department ofMinnesota Annual Convention willbe held at The Kelly Inn, St. Cloud,MN. For registration/reservation in-formation, contact Donald Zupan,Reg. Chairman, 1968 Vierling Dr. E.,Shakopee, MN 55379; 952-496-0177.

May 12, 2007. Annual POW Lun-cheon will be held at Barksdale AirForce Base, LA. For reservations ormore information call Colonel StevedePyssler, 866-544-2412 [email protected] or 318-456-5976 or FAX 318-456-3520.

May 15-19, 2007. Department ofFlorida Convention will be held atDeerfield Beach Embassy Suites. Registration $65 includes Wed.night dinner dance party and Sat.night banquet and dance. Formore information call Bruce orSami Hall at 386-788-1749, oremail [email protected].

May 25-26, 2007. The Departmentof Georgia annual State Conventionwill be held at the Jameson Inn,Americus, GA. For further informa-tion contact Commander RayReierson at 912 925-7073 or LloydPate at 706 556-9413.

June 7-9, 2007. The Department ofArizona Annual Convention will beheld at the Windmill Inn and Suites,12545 W. Bell Road, Surprise, Ari-zona, 85374 phone 623-583-0133,Ext 507. For more information con-tact: Ruth Kilmer, 15834 HuronDrive, Sun City West, AZ 85375,phone 623 214 0600.

June 7-9, 2007. Stalags 9A, 9B, 9Cand Berga Am Elster ex-POWs willhold their annual reunion at theEmbassy Suites Hotel, Kansas City,MO 64153. Contact: JakeUnderwood, 913 Maple Road,Uniontown, KS 66779; 620-756-4647; [email protected].

June 8-9, 2007. The Dept. of WestVirginia Annual Convention willbe held at the Holiday Inn, Bridge-port, WV. For information, contactsecretary Annette Smith, 724-785-8536.

June 14-15, 2007, The Departmentof North Carolina Annual StateConvention at the Holiday Inn Bor-deaux Fayetteville, NC, contactCommander Paul Dallas or Adju-tant/Treasurer Doris Dallas 910-867-2775.

June 21-25, 2007. WWII PT Boats,Bases, Tenders 43rd Annual Re-union will be held at the DrawbridgeInn, Ft. Mitchell, KY. For more infor-mation, contact PT Tenders, Boatsand Bases, PO Box 38070,Germantown, TN 38183; 901-755-8440; www.ptboats.org.

July 27, 2007. Ceremonies markingthe 54th Anniversary of the armi-stice ending the Korean War will beheld at 10AM on the mall in Wash-ington, DC. Presentations by govern-ment and military personnel willhighlight the program, organized bythe Korean War Armistice Day Com-mittee. For detailed information,contact J. Norbert Reiner, 6632Kirkley Ave., McLean, VA 22101;703-893-6313. Information about ac-commodations and tours is available

from Jack Cloman, 2702 FranklinvilleRoad, Joppa, MD 21085; 410-676-1388.

July 29-Aug. 5, 2007. The KoreanWar Ex-POW Association will holdtheir 32nd Annual Reunion (for allServices) at the Charleston MarriottTown Center Hotel in Charleston,WV. CONTACT: F. Jack Chapman at(505) 523-2298 or by email :[email protected].

August 15-18, 21007. 80th InfantryDivision Association 88th AnnualReunion will be held in Fairborn, OHat the Holiday Inn. For reservations,call 937-426-7800. Reunion Chair-man, Elmer G. Dorsten, 208 N. ElmSt., Coldwater, OH 45828; 419-678-2618.

Aug. 24-27, 2007. The Departmentof Ohio 2007 Convention will be heldat the Holiday Inn, Zanesville. 740-588-6617. Contact person is “Doc”Unger, (216) 521-1889.

Aug 26-28, 2007. The 44th AnnualGathering of Former Prisoners ofWar of the Far East will be held atSmoky Shadows, Pigeon Forge, TN.For reservations, 800-282-2121. Forinformation, contact: WayneCarringer, 828-479-6263 or Lan’lSnyder, 281-422-2852.

Sept. 4-8, 2007. The 106th Div.Assoc. 61st Annual Reunion will beheld at the Crown Center, KansasCity MO. For more info, contact JohnKline - 952-890-3155.

Sept. 12-16, 2007. The Third In-fantry Division’s 88th Reunion willbe held at the Sheraton ColoradoSprings Hotel. For reservations, call719-576-5900. For reunion info,contact: Linda Irvine, 360-663-2521; [email protected].

Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 2007. The 45th In-fantry Division (Thunderbirds) willbe holding their annual reunion. Forfurther information, please contact:Raul Trevino, 2145 NE Street, Okla-homa City, OK 73111; 210-681-9134.

Ex-POW Bulletin

May2007

17

October 2007. The SecondSchweinfurt Memorial Associa-tion, Inc. (SSMA) will be celebrat-ing the 64th Anniversary Reunionof “Black Thursday” (8th Air Force- Mission 115 over Schweinfurt,Germany on October 14, 1943) inSchweinfurt, Germany. (Tentativelocation for 2008 — Savannah,Georgia). For more information,please contact Julee and BobMacDonald at 720-254-7418 [email protected].

April 29-30, 2008. The First Re-searching FEPOW (Far EasternPOW) History Conference will beheld at the National Memorial Ar-boretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire,UK. For more information, con-tact: Meg Parkes, Tel: (+44) (0)151 632 2017; www.kranji.co.uk;[email protected].

I am looking for the TuskegeeAirman who was in my com-pound at 7A, Moosburg. Othersin the compound were Lt.Clayton J. Smith from St. College,PA; Sgt. Doyle Daniels, LittleRock, AR; and myself, Gerald L.Smith, Durham, NH. We were lib-erated on April 29, 1945, andsomewhere I lost my list of com-pound members. Please contactme at: 1 Back River Road,Durham, NH 03824; 603-742-3162.

Looking for…Old buddies in theKeesler Field, Oct. 1943 #52Training Group, Squad 522:Farrell, Boyd, Verdan, Voci,Ostrowski, Kehe, LaPietre, or any-one else in the above mentionedclass. Please contact Ken Wilcox,

events, continued11032 W. Runion Dr., Sun City, AZ85373, or via email at:[email protected]. See pictureabove.

On Aug. 32, 1944, “F” Company ofthe 179th Reg., 45th Div. was split upinto three sections and set up onthree roadblocks to block Highway84. The Nazi Eleventh Panzer Divi-sion was attacking us and we weresurrounded by more than 1000 menand 60 tanks. Somehow, we were ableto hold them off overnight, but onSept. 1st, 33 men on my roadblock,including three French FreedomFighters, were captured by the Ger-mans. This day would be remem-bered as “The Infamous Battle ofMaximeaux”. The German officer incharge did not know what to do withus and issued an order to kill us all. Iwas born in Germany and of coursecould speak German. I yelled at himand told him about the “Geneva Con-ventions”. After a while, he listenedto me and told me to get all the meninside the building. If you wereamong the 30 American soldiers andremember the situation, please writeto me. Fred Rennert, 6851 SouthportDr., Boynton Beach, FL 33437.

Do you have any info about a Hospi-tal POW Camp just outside of KOLN(Cologne)? I had been wounded theday of the “capture” and was takenon one of my own weapons carriersto a Russian POW camp (they wereworking on a railroad keeping it open)thence to a German “stud” camp (Ger-mans fathering children using Rus-sian captive women for the glory ofthe Reich). I spent Christmas eve andday there, then onto this hugeHaufenstahl outside Cologne. Wewere billeted with French, Russian,British etc. I actually had a bunk withsheets!!! The food was meager butgood (with a decent variety). Therewere also some wounded Air Forceofficers there. Any hints?????Thanks, Jim Reiss, [email protected].

My name is Sheldon Hollingshead.Captain Charles Dunn made me ser-geant in the field while I was servingwith the 45th Div., 180th Inf., Com-

The following poem was sub-mitted by AXPOW memberJames Carlascio.

“Last November 11th, I talked toabout 300 students. One stu-dent made a poem out of myspeech as a POW.”

Freedom is not Free

He was draftedAt age 18For WWII

He experiencedThe night sky beingLike Fourth of July.

The enemies and soundBegan to multiply

Scared and homesick, he lieFlat on the ground.

He was capturedAnd became a prisoner of war

His feet became frozen,And he could not walkHe was pulled by a sled

And slept in no bed.

For him andMany other soldiers

We have freedomBut freedom is not free.

They paid for itBy hard work and sacrifice

He says he is no hero,The heroes

Are in cemeteriesBut he is a heroA hero indeed!

pany A. Colonel Shaeffer (sp?) wasour CO. We were in Sicily, April1943 before we were captured. Ifyou remember this event, or werein my Company, please contact me.My address is: 2013 Verano St., Sac-ramento, CA 95838; 916-922-9460.


18

59th ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTIONOct. 17-21, 2007Springfield, IL

“Land of Lincoln”Convention Registration

Registrant’s Name_________________________________ Nickname______________________

Spouse’s Name (if attending)________________________ Phone _________________________Address_________________________________________ E-mail ________________________

City_________________________________________State__________Zip__________

Special Needs (Wheel chair, oxygen, etc.) _______________________________________________

Unit When Captured___________________Theatre_________________Camps__________________REGISTRATION (per person) until September 3 ~ $65.00 after Sept. 3 - $70 no refund after Sept. 7Payable to: 2007 Convention FundMail to: Marylou Andersen1244 Red Oak CtElgin, Illinois 60120847-717-0343

60th National ConventionOctober 17-21, 2007

AGENDA

Tues. Oct. 16National Service Officer TrainingToursWed. Oct. 17National Board of Directors MeetingThurs. Oct. 18Opening CeremoniesNational Legislation ProgramMedsearch SeminarCommander’s ReceptionFri. Oct. 19Men and Women’s WorkshopsEducation SeminarLadies/PNCs LuncheonsNational Convention Call to OrderReunion NightSat. Oct. 20Continuation of General AssemblyBanquet & Installation of OfficersSun. Oct. 21National Board of Directors Meeting

AD ORDER FORMOverall page size is 8 ½” x 11”

AD PRICINGFull page……..$200Half page…….$125Quarter page………$75Business card…… …$35Deadline for submissions: Sept. 1, 2006

Name_________________________Organization (if applicable)__________________Address_______________________City___________________________State_____________Zip___________Telephone______________________Ad Size___________Amount Enclosed $_______

Make Checks or Money Orderspayable to:

2007 CONVENTION FUND

Mail order form withad materials and check to:

AXPOW Convention-Program AdBob Foster

14 Conestoga DriveAuburn, Illinois 62615

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

We’re planning a number of toursand other activities. Right now,we’re still making plans, but moreinformation will be in the Bulletinas we get closer.

There will be entertainment eachnight of the convention, includingthe Springfield Capitol Area Band,The Springfield Municipal Bandand the St. Andrews society Pipesand Drums.

The PNC Luncheon is scheduled forFriday, Oct. 19th.

Reunion Night will be Friday, Oct.19th.

Check the June Bulletin and/orRegistration at the hotel once youcheck in.

Saturday Night Banquet Choice:Boneless Breast of Chicken _________Traditional London Broil __________Choose One

Total Registration: $ ____________

Ladies Luncheon, Friday Oct. 19price to come

Grand Total: $ ______________

American Ex-Prisoners of War

Ex-POW BulletinMay2007

19

60th National Convention

October 17-21, 2007

HOST HOTEL ~ Springfield Hilton

700 East Adams, Springfield, IL 62701

217-789-1530

Name __________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip ___________________________________ Phone _____________

Arrival Date______________________________Departure Date_________________

Number of Beds in Room 1 2 Smoking Non-Smoking

Circle One: Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Diners Club

Credit Card # _________________________________ Exp Date ____________Special Needs ____________________________________________

ROOM RATES: $79 PER NIGHT~Ask for AXPOW Convention RatePlease make your reservations prior to Sept. 3, 2007.

Check in time is 3:00PM ~ Check-out time is 12:00 Nooncomplimentary breakfast, airport shuttle.

Valet parking $10.00 per day

American Ex-Prisoners of WarCandidate for National Office

2007Candidate for office of:Name:Address: Telephone:

Member Chapter:Military Service Organization (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines or civilian):

Date and Place of Capture:Places of Internment:Date and Place of Liberation:

Biography (Please attach, including picture):

To be eligible to run for a national office, a candidate must have been a member for the 3 previous years.

Submit To:Grover Swearingen, Chairman

408 Fair Park AvenueWest Union, OH 45693

(937) 544-2459 phone & [email protected]


20

To Contact the Committees

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

Statement of Robert W. Fletcher, National Commander, American Ex-Prisoners of War

Testimony Before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs

March 29, 2007

Chairman Akaka, Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Craig, Ranking Member Buyer, Distinguished Membersof the Veterans Affairs Committees and Guests.

By way of introduction, I am Robert Fletcher, National Commander American Ex-Prisoners of War, a KoreanWar POW. I was held for nearly three years under extremely brutal, inhumane conditions, as were the morethan 4,000 held captive with me. Like all POWs - whatever “our war”- I am as proud of my country today asI was during my captivity. That will never waiver!!

As you know, POWs have paid a high price in long-term health consequences as well as the more immediatedamage to mind and body. Yet, POWs have always been reluctant to complain or seek benefits. For manyyears, they were virtually “invisible veterans” to VA or Congress.

Beginning with the greater publicity focused on Vietnam POWs and the research findings of the NationalAcademy of Sciences and other bodies - Congress and VA began to correct this oversight. POWs have nomedical records for the time of their confinement. Until Congress began establishing “POW presumptives”, itwas extremely difficult for an individual POW to prove health problems were related to captivity. The meaningof a POW presumptive is simply that if you had that condition it was presumed to be causally related tocaptivity. These presumptives have been a god-send for many POWs.

What’s the problem today? POWs are now dying at a very high rate. There are only 20,000 still alive out of thenearly 140,000 captured in WWII to the present. Despite solid research documentation, two medical conditions,osteoporosis and diabetes, have not yet been acted upon by Congress. “Low priority for funding” - not factualevidence- was the reason given for Congressional inaction last year. the year before that and so on! So today,there is very little time left to help POWs with these health problems. Clearly the conscience of the Americanpeople would support anything warranted. Isn’t it time for Congress to act?

Supporting these two proposed presumptives is clearly justified and should have top priority. The currentcost would be minimal due to the diminishing number of POWs still alive who might have these two medicalproblems. Also, only a small portion are likely to seek these benefits or are already rated 100% disabled dueto other problems. There would be no additional cost factor.

We are again urging Congress to act now on these two long delayed presumptives. Will POWs who need thishelp be sacrificed for “other priorities” again this year?

In closing, I would urge each of you to become cosponsors of the bills introduced on our behalf. RepresentativeGus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced H.R. 1197 and Senator Patty Murray (D- W A) introduced S. 848. Also, thecontinuing media publicity given to deficiencies in follow-up care for returning disabled veterans is a broadercall for action from your committees as are the specific requests from Veterans Service Organizations. Wesupport wholeheartedly all effort to give the surviving spouse of a military retiree the right to receive bothSBP and DIC - the SBP has been paid for; the DIC is payable because the military retiree was rated for serviceconnected disabilities. We have worked to assure that military retirees can receive both retirement pay andcompensation for service connected disabilities. The surviving spouses deserve the same consideration.Thank you.

House Committee onVeterans’ Affairs335 CannonHouse Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20515(202) 225-9756

Senate Committee onVeterans’ Affairs412 RussellSenate Office BuildingWashington D.C. 20510(202) 224-9126


21

News

Briefs

The Independent Budget

for Fiscal Year 2008This is the 21st year The Indepen-dent Budget (IB) has been devel-oped by four veterans service or-ganizations: AMVETS, DisabledAmerican Veterans, the ParalyzedVeterans of America, and the Vet-erans of Foreign Wars of the UnitedStates. This document is the col-laborative effort of a united veteranand health advocacy communitythat presents policy and budgetrecommendations on programsadministered by the Department ofVeterans Affairs (VA) and the De-partment of Labor.

The IB is built on a systematicmethodology that takes into ac-count changes in the size and agestructure of the veteran population,federal employee wage increases,medical care inflation, cost-of-liv-ing adjustments, constructionneeds, trends in health-care utili-zation, benefit needs, efficient andeffective means of benefits deliv-ery, and estimates of the numberof veterans to be buried in nationaland state veterans cemeteries.

We call on Congress to find a bet-ter way to fund veterans’ health-care spending by removing the vet-erans’ budget from the battle overannual discretionary spending. Wecall on Congress to establish a for-mula to provide VA health-carefunding from the mandatory sideof the federal budget, ensuring anadequate and timely flow of dol-lars to meet the needs of sick anddisabled veterans.

VA Handbook 2007

A new edition of the Federal Ben-efits for Veterans and Dependentshandbook by the Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA) has been re-leased. It updates the rates for cer-tain federal payments and outlinesa variety of programs and benefitsfor American veterans. Most ofthe nation’s 25 million veteransqualify for some VA benefits, whichrange from health care to burial ina national cemetery. In additionto health-care and burial benefits,veterans may be eligible for pro-grams providing home loan guar-anties, educational assistance,training and vocational rehabilita-tion, income assistance pensions,life insurance and compensationfor service-connected illnesses ordisabilities. In some cases, survi-vors of veterans may also be en-titled to benefits. The handbookdescribes programs for veteranswith specific service experiences,such as POWs or those concernedabout environmental exposures inVietnam or in the Gulf War, as wellas special benefits for veterans withsevere disabilities. It also includesresources to help veterans accesstheir benefits, with a listing of toll-free phone numbers, Internet ad-dresses and a directory of VA fa-cilities throughout the country.The handbook can be downloadedfree from VA’s Web site.

Veterans Healthcare

Empowerment ActExpressing strong confidence in thecurrent healthcare system run bythe U.S. Department of VeteransAffairs, the Ranking Member of theCommittee on Veterans’ Affairs(SCVA) U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) said that he is willing to see howthe system might fare in competi-tion with the free market. Underlegislation he is introducing - TheVeterans Healthcare EmpowermentAct - veterans with service con-nected disabilities will be able togo to any hospital or medical clinicof their choice. “Many of my col-leagues have spent the past weekor so accusing VA of ‘failing’ ourinjured service-members. Most oftheir evidence is based on reportsfrom the news media who have

highlighted recently a number ofveterans who were treated badly byVA or who do not have faith in VA’scare. I take these concerns very se-riously. But, I am also a little frus-trated by it,” said Craig. “That’swhy I will introduce legislation thatsays: If you have a service- con-nected disability, go wherever youwant. No strings. No ifs, ands, orbuts. Let’s find out where veteranschoose to go.”

Approximately 2.5 million veteranshave service connected disabilitiesand approximately 1.7 million cur-rently use the VA healthcare sys-tem. VA operates 154 hospitals and881 outpatient clinics.

PTSDPatients with post-traumatic stressdisorders (PTSD) are more likely tostruggle with smoking, alcoholismand obesity, according to a newanalysis of post-traumatic stressstudies. Researchers say the find-ings show that counselors need todeal not just with the mental as-pects of PTSD, but also the physi-cal challenges that patients face.Relieving the PTSD will help withsome of the burden, but these riskbehaviors will still be a problem,said Dr. Miles McFall, Director ofPsychology Service at VA PugetSound Health Care System and anauthor of the analysis. The report,published in the latest issue of theDepartment of Veterans AffairsPTSD Research Quarterly, reviewsvarious research performed overthe last few years which showsPTSD patients are twice as likely tosmoke, twice as likely to develop adrinking problem and nearly threetimes more likely to use drugs thanthe general population. Anotherstudy showed that nearly 83% ofthose suffering from PTSD areoverweight or obese, compared tojust under 65% of the adult popu-lation in the United States.


22

Members’

forum

To AXPOW:

I would like to express my sincerethanks for the help of NSO FrankKravetz. It was through his deter-mined efforts that I am now receiv-ing increased monthly compensa-tion from the VA. I am 91 years oldand my wife is 83. This increasehelps us meet our monthly bills andremain independent.

Also, we frequently receive phonecalls and mail from various organi-zations asking for information ormoney. Frank helps us determinewhether they are legitimate or bo-gus.

Frank’s attitude is always warm andfriendly, and we know we can counton him.

Jack W. RiesJamestown, PA

Dear Fred Campbell:

I received my EX-POW Bulletin 4days ago and like always, I read itcover to cover. On page 7 there isan article about letting people knowabout an AXPOW NSO who haddone something good for you. Well,I have had this idea since last Sept.,but didn’t know where to send myinfo.

At this time, I would like to thankMr. Walter Peterson, the AXPOW

NSO who really went to bat for meand set up all my appointments atour Branch office here in La Crosse,WI; he also set up all my appoint-ments at the VA hospital at Tomak,WI. Plus, he also did a lot of explain-ing to me about what to take withme to these places. Because of hisknowledge of how the VA worked,everything turned out 110% for me.

Please keep up the good work. Ilook forward to my EX-POW Bulle-tin every month.

This letter is from an old ex-POWand I tell everyone “if you havenever been a POW, you don’t un-derstand what I’m saying”. I wasin Stalag IVB, Mulberg, Germany.

Gordon HoffmanOnalaska, WI

Dear Editor:

I am the biggest fan of the Ameri-can Veterans’ Administration.There have been controversies overthe problems of our current VAHospitals. As for me, I will be for-ever grateful for our wonderful VAsystem.

My deceased husband, Ed was aPOW in a German prison camp fortwo years during WWII. He escaped,then ended up in a concentrationcamp from which he made a sec-ond escape. He made it home justbefore the war ended. Ed, and themany American soldiers who suf-fered through WWII still rely on theexcellent care they receive throughthe VA.

They are now in their eighties andsome still suffer from their warexperiences and also now the af-flictions of aging. Traumatic stressstayed with them the rest of theirlives, especially those who were tor-tured and starved inside a prisoncamp.

Our returning soldiers from Iraqwill be suffering the same effectsof war for years ahead. They will

find the same compassion andhealth care through the VA. Thedoctors in the VA are highly quali-fied. The VA hospital in Phoenix isa model of excellence. I also vis-ited the Tucson VA facility andfound it to be in the same level ofquality. The nursing homes aregood, but filled to capacity. In Ed’scase, they sent him to a private fa-cility under VA contract. The VAgave years of unlimited care forEd’s physical and mental problems.

From my own personal experience,I salute and praise the VA; the doc-tors, nurses, volunteers and every-one involved – even to the clean-ing crews for their dedication andexcellence. I don’t know how wewould have made it through with-out it.

Mary Suominen ParisellaTucson, AZ 85711

Dear Cheryl:

Thank you all at the National Head-quarters of AXPOWs.

The past commanders have beengreat and I wish the new Com-mander Fletcher the best of luckin the year ahead. Sorry I did notget to mail the enclosed order orletter I had written before Christ-mas, I believe.

I am enclosing three separatechecks to cover the order, the Med-Search donation and also the Gen-eral Fund donation.

Congratulations to Cheryl Cerbone,the editor of the fabulous EX-POWBulletin. As a widow for fourteenyears now, I find the Bulletin keepsme informed on all POW affairs.The MedSearch is what led my hus-band and I to the Bulletin and I amthankful it still continues.

Wishes for continued successes.

Gratefully,Marge PokerWauwatosa, WI

Ex-POW Bulletin

May 2007

23

The Members of the Brooklyn “Key” Chapter, AXPOWbelieve in our slogan:

“We Exist to Help Those Who Cannot Help Themselves”

In the last 12 years we have raised – and spent $500,000.00 to help ALL VETERANS

Several years ago, we purchased two new DELL computers for the National Service OfficeWe have donated $4,000 to help the EX-POW Bulletin

We furnished two rooms for families of veteran-patients staying overnightWe purchased rehabilitation equipment, televisions and more

We now ask every chapter with money to buy space in our Bulletin. We need this wonderful publication – MedSearch,TAPS, Stories of the past and other news and articles. The Brooklyn “Key” Chapter is the busiest, most productive chapterin the country. We know most can’t do what we have done, but we ask your help in keeping our EX-POW Bulletin alive.

If you want to help, call Lee at 718-642-7647.THANK YOU!

American Ex-Prisoners of War Website Biographywww.axpow.org

If you are not a current member of AXPOW,you must submit documentation of your POW status.

NameNicknameAddressCity/State/Zip TelephoneEmailConflict and Theater of OperationBranch of Service UnitWhere were you captured? Date captured

POW camps you were held inHow long were you a POW? Date liberatedMedals receivedJob in the militaryAfter the warBiography (please type or print one or two paragraphs.)Submit 1 or 2 photographs (color or black and white).

SEND TO: American Ex-Prisoners of War3201 East Pioneer Parkway #40Arlington, Texas 76010-5396

Please include your check for $65.

If you have any questions, please contact Clydie Morgan, National Adjutant,at 817-649-2979; [email protected]


24

GENERAL FUNDMr. & Mrs. Ed KazmierczakCapitol City Chapter, Austin TXMargaret Poker, Wauwatosa WITeofil Golec, Eastpointe MIIn honor of Frank Kravetz, byFrank BrunnerIn Memory of Jim Petty by LloydDelahorneIn Memory of David Mulliner byCarl V. HeimasterIn memory of Claude Piantadosi,by Mary & Bill SegoviaIn memory of Claude Piantadosi,by Johns Hopkins UniversityIn memory of Dorothy Dippols, byJack & Catherine WilsonIn memory of Edwin Hays, byGladys RaskIn memory of Edwin Hays, byJanice SwackIn memory of Emil Raimondi, byPhilip & Laura McIntyreIn memory of Herbert Laabs, byRichard & Martha CarrollIn memory of Herbert Laabs, byLorraine MullenmeisterIn memory of Jacob Roy ‘Jake’Rush, by John & Phyllis HutchinsIn memory of Jacob Roy ‘Jake’Rush, by Carol & Roger FreemanIn memory of Jacob Rush, by theRocky Mountain Chapter, COIn memory of Jessie Price, by theInland Empire Chapter, CAIn memory of John ‘Jack’ Johnson,by Erwin & Shirley LangeIn memory of John Conard, by C &J Nattier

In memory of John O Johnson, byRobert & Shirley FieldIn memory of Larry Wissman, byOKI ChapterIn memory of Leroy Bowman, byM/M George BarnesIn memory of Leroy Bowman, byPeter & Mary GriffinIn memory of PNC Charles ‘Chuck’Towne, by PNC Maurice & BonnieSharpIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Richard JindrichIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Peerless ChainCompanyIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Jerry & PatGiffordIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Bunny SchnitkerIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Dale & GretchenStrohbehnIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Goldie & NormaMillerIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Rod & RoseanneBass FultonIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Mile HighChapterIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Art & JudyPetersonIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Dick & GraceThonrtonIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Arthur MeyersIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Joy RomeroIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Loren & SharronBaconIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Barbara BaconIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Patrick &Roxanne O’NeillIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by E H DiehlIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Marge & DonHuebnerIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by DorothyThrockmortonIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Lila Williams

In memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Wilbur &Harriett GallupIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by John & LorettaKrejciIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Dorothy HindersIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Tom & KarenPearsonIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Dorothy C HicksIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Kevin & MissyThrockmortonIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Norman & FaithHuittIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Elmfeld Equip-ment CompanyIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Phil & MichelePhillipsIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Karen & JohnKerklaffIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Helen MaeranIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by Philip & LauraMcIntyreIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by PNC Maurice &Bonnie SharpIn memory of PNC RichardThrockmorton, by the Departmentof ColoradoLIFE MEMBER DONORSEva Moore, Phoenix AZJim Clark, Bastrop LAJohn Napoli, Richland WAJohn Napoli, Richland WAKachadour Avedisian, Cranston RILowell Williamson, Scottsdale AZMEDSEARCH FUNDMargaret Poker, Wauwatosa WIIn memory of Clement Kuhman, byFrances LloydIn memory of Freida Sutton, byCen-Tex ChapterIn memory of Robert “Bob’McGrath, by the Colymbia RiverChapterIn memory of William ‘Bill’ Bailey.By the Columbia River ChapterN.S.O. FUNDIn memory of Bill Hurley, by Mel &Harriet SteffesIn memory of Pauline Burger, by

Mel & Harriet Steffes

Please send donations to:National Headquarters, 3201 EastPioneer Parkway, Suite 40,Arlington, TX 76010. You can alsomake a donation with a creditcard (MasterCard or Visa). Just call817-6492979. Thank you!

Contributions are not tax deductible

contributions

National Headquarters3201 East Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40Arlington, TX 76010; (817) [email protected]

new members

New Annual Members“Welcome Home”

Paul John CostelloLansing, MI99 Div 393 BN C Co12C, 13C, Sork Camp12/17/44-6/1/45

George H BriceTina MLafayette, NJAACLuft 3, others

Harrison W. Morgan, Jr.Lancaster, PASon of Harrison MorganSr. ETO

Sarah ClingmanJayColumbia, SCDaughter of BarnwellLinley, ETO

New Life Members“Welcome Home”*new member to AXPOW

W Dean JonesRuth Irene 3537 39289Manchester, IA301 BG17B

Archie Mathosian *39290

S Setauket, NY

AAFStalag Luft 13/18/45-4/7/45

Norman Lichtenfeld 39291

Mobile, ALSon of SeymourLichtenfeld, ETO

Louise Vitale 39292Lancaster, TXWidow of George AVitaleCamp 5 KOREA

D AllanGavan *39293Center Harbor, NH26 Div 104 Reg

7A10/14/44-4/29/45

Deborah Wissman *39294

Cincinnati, OHWidow of Lawrence EWissman2B, Work Camps, Prussia12/28/43-5/3/45

Robert C “Buzz” BartonRey G * 39295 39296Dallas, TXAAC BomberLuft 3, Bavaria,Nurnburg

chaplain’s corner

National Chaplain

John Romine1609 S. 23rd Street

Rogers, AR 72758

(479) 636-2287


25

I recently read where a familymoved to a new location. Theysoon found out that their fax ma-chine would transmit messagesbut had trouble receiving. Everyincoming message would cut offwith these instructing words: “TooMuch Noise and Restrictions onLine”. They called a repairman andhe soon found and corrected theproblems. This tells us that we canhave our say and transmit our re-quests to God, but sometimes haveproblems receiving His answers. Itseems as though our natural fo-

cus is on what we want and not onwhat we need to hear from the Al-mighty God. If we allow things ofthis world to build up resistanceto what he wants of us, we will findout that there are dozens of thingsand reasons we will refuse to hearHis pleading for us to reach out toothers as we should.

Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father,we come to You with praise andthanksgiving for the blessings thatyou send to sustain us each andevery day. May we in return do ourbest to do Your will. As we face thetrials and tasks of life, may ourlives overflow with appreciationand gratitude by showing Your loveand kindness to everyone we meet.O Lord, we do want to becomemore like You in all things. Soplease help us to take a step backand listen to what You have to sayto us. As we ask a special blessingupon all who listen to what youhave to say. May a special blessingbe upon our unique organization…all who need Your kind of help…and upon our great nation so thatpeace may be upon this earth. In

Your Holy and Blessed Name wepray. AMEN.

Thought for the month: Worldlystatic disrupts our communicationwith God.

And a chuckle: One Sundaymorning, the pastor noticed littleAlex was staring up at the largeplaque that hung in the foyer ofthe church. The plaque wascovered with names, and smallAmerican flags were mounted oneither side of it. The seven-year-oldhad been staring at the plaque forsome time, so the pastor walkedup to him. “Pastor McGhee, whatis this?” Alex asked. “Well, son, it’sa memorial to all the men andwomen who have died in theservice.” Soberly, they stoodtogether, staring at the largeplaque. Little Alex’s voice wasbarely audible when he finallymanaged to ask, “Which one, the9:00 or 10:30 service?

taps Please submit taps notices to: Cheryl Cerbone, 23 Cove View Drive, South Yarmouth, MA 02664


26

BAILEY, William Arthur, age 74, ofPortland, OR died Oct. 4, 2006. Billserved in the Army in Korea; he wasa POW for 27 months. Survivorsinclude his wife, Betty, 4 stepsons,1 sister, 1 brother, 22 grandchil-dren and 49 great-grandchildren.

BEAUCHAMP, Allen V., 86, ofTimonium, MD passed away Jan. 4,2007. During WWII, he served in theMarines, captured by the Japanesein the Philippines. He survived theBataan Death March and 3 ½ yearsin 42nd Garage, Bilibid, Cabanatuan,Osaka, Kobe, Omomori andYodogowa. Allen was a life mem-ber of AXPOW and the Albert J.Bland Maryland North Chapter. Heis survived by 1 daughter, 2 sons,5 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchildand stepmother.

BITTNER, Thomas Edward, 86, ofBaltimore, MD passed away Dec.6, 2006. During WWII, he served inthe 8th AF, 98th BG (H). He was aPOW in Luft IV for 11 months. Tomwas a member of the Albert J. BlandMaryland North Chapter. He is sur-vived by 1 daughter, 1 son, 3 broth-ers, 5 sisters and 4 grandchildren.

BROWN, Delos, member of the SanFernando Valley Chapter, AXPOWand resident of Van Nuys passedaway Jan. 7, 2007. Delos was cap-tured on Wake Island on Dec. 22,1941 while serving in the Navy. Hewas held in Woosun, China, steelmills in Yahata and Kokura, Japan;he spent 8 years in the hospital af-ter liberation. His devoted wife,Betty, 1 sister and other family andfriends survive him.

BUSELMEIER, Rudolph Matthew,age 90, of Coos Bay, OR passedaway Jan. 4, 2007. On Dec. 8, 1941,

the Japanese bombed the CaviteNavy Yard, forcing the evacuationof the command to Manila and thento Bataan. Rudy was ordered toCorregidor where he was captured;he was held for 3 ½ years. He issurvived by his wife, Janet, 2daughters, 3 stepchildren, 1 sister,grandchildren, great-grandchil-dren, nieces and nephews.

CAPEN, Morris N. of RanchoCordova, CA died March 14 at theage of 84. He had been a POW inSanto Tomas and Los Banos in thePhilippines during WWII. Morriswas a longtime member of the49ers Chapter, AXPOW. He was alsoa past chapter commander (possi-bly more than once). He leaves hiswife, Grace, 2 daughters and 3grandsons.

CLAYPOOL, Warren David, 87, ofPuposky, MN died July 22, 2006.Dave served with the 379th BG,526th BS, 8th AF. He was a POW atStalag Luft IV; liberated by the 104th

Inf. He is survived by 7 children,22 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. His son, David, cur-rently served as the MN State Com-mander.

CORPENING, Ira B., of El Cajon, CApassed away Feb. 10, 2007 at theage of 86. He served with the AAFduring WWII; he was a POW in Ger-many. Ira’s passion was airplanes.He spent many happy days volun-teering at the San Diego AerospaceMuseum. He will be missed by hiswife of 62 years, 2 daughters and2 grandchildren.

CRAM, Milton B. Sr., 85, of Gilford,NH, died Feb. 20, 2007. Milt servedin the Army during WWII with the106th Div., 423rd Reg., Cannon Co.and served with the Army Corpsof Engineers. He was captured atthe Battle of the Bulge on Dec. 16,1944. He was a member of the New

Hampshire Chapter, AXPOW – di-rector for 10 years. Survivors in-clude three sons, one daughter, fivegrandchildren, and one sister. Hewas predeceased by his wife of 51years, Vonda (Inman) Cram, in1999.

CYCHNER, Max J. of Mount Pros-pect passed away Feb. 4, 2007. Maxserved in the Army during WWII.He was a POW in Europe. He was amember of the Fox River Chapter,AXPOW. Survivors include hisdaughter Joanne, 1 granddaughterand 1 great-grandson. He was pre-ceded in death by his beloved wife,Bernice.

Di FRANCESCO, Maria Agnes, 90,of Bethesda, MD died Dec. 29,2006. Maria was a member of theChuck Williams Mid-MarylandChapter. She is survived by herhusband of 64 years, Vincent (POWin Oflag 64 during WWII), 3 daugh-ters and 5 grandchildren.

DIGGS, Ben F., of Pensacola, FLpassed away Dec. 24, 2006. Aftercapture in Germany, Ben and goodfriend Fred Quiel were slave laboron the Deutsche Eisenbann. NowFred is the only one left of thegroup. Ben is survived by his wifeof 59 years, Mary Grace, 1 daugh-ter, 1 sister and a large and lovingextended family.

DIVER, Clarence, of Dunlap, ILpassed away Feb. 25, 2007 at theage of 85. Clarence was capturedwhile serving in the Army duringWWII. He was a member of theHeart of IL Chapter, AXPOW. Heleaves his loving wife, Lucille, 1son, 1 daughter, 5 grandchildren,10 great-grandchildren, 1 sisterand several nieces and nephews.

DREHER, Alfred (Ben), ofBremerton, WA died Jan 26, 2007.Ben was 92. He was commanding


27

taps continuedofficer of an Ordinance CO; he wasimprisoned when the Japaneseoverran Corregidor. Ben was a long-time member of the Kitsap Chap-ter; he served as Chapter Com-mander before his illness. His wife,Ana, survives him.

EMKENS, Ilene O. died December12, 2006. She was a member ofthe Greater Tampa Bay Chapter andwas the widow of Harold A.Emkens.

FILKINS, Clyde L. of Westerlo, NYpassed away Feb. 17, 2007 at theage of 87. During WWII, he servedwith the 106th Inf. Div., 422 Reg.,Co C. He was captured in the Battleof the Bulge. Survivors include hiswife, Margaret, 10 nieces and neph-ews and a host of extended familyand friends.

FINN, Willard E. of Vienna, MO,member of Central MO ChapterAXPOW, passed away 03/03/07. Hewas a POW in Germany in WW-11.He is survived by his wife Berniceof 61 years a son Gary and daugh-ter Barbara Brewer & grandchil-dren. He was in Army Air Corpsduring WW-11 & flew as a crewmember on B-l7 aircraft stationedin Italy.

FISH, Joseph H., of Rego Park,Queens, NY passed away Nov. 10,2006. During WWII, he served withthe 117th Infantry and was a POWin Germany. He leaves his nephewJoseph, of Goffstown, NH.

FULLOM, Gerald D. of Centerville,PA died Oct. 5, 2006. He was 84.Gerald served with the 99th Inf. Divand was captured during the Battleof the Bulge. He was held at Stalag4B until liberation. Survivors in-clude his beloved wife of 62 years,Doris, 1 daughter and 2 grandsons.Both Gerald and Doris were lifemembers of AXPOW.

GALLOWAY, Ernest Agnew, age 91passed away Jan 29, 2007 at his

home in Goldsboro, NC. Ernieserved with the 8th AF, 279th BG. Hewas captured on a bombing runover the Rhur Valley. Ernie partici-pated in the Great Escape from Sta-lag Luft III and the march acrossGermany. He leaves his wife of 60years, Linda, and one daughter.

GATTINELLA, Sebastiano “Bustie”P., 87, of Salem, NH, died Feb. 14,2007. He was a POW of World WarII. He served as a radio operatorin the USAF, [Battle of the Bulge].Bustie was a devoted husband for60 years and a loving father. Heloved gardening. He is survived byhis wife, Nellie, two sons, twobrothers, three sisters and threegrandchildren.

GILBERT, Richard C., of Ashville,AL died Jan. 27, 2007. He was 83.Richard is the last Wake Island Ma-rine POW survivor from AL, GA, FLor TN. He was held prisoner inChina and Japan from Dec. 1941to Sept. 1945. He was a life mem-ber of AXPOW and past com-mander of Cheaha Chapter. Heleaves his wife, Alice, 3 daughters,2 step-daughters, several grand-children and great-grandchildren.

GOLDMAN, Jane F., 84, life mem-ber of AXPOW and the James L.Hale Memorial Chapter, passedaway Feb. 25, 2007. Her husband,Ben, a POW in Germany, 1 daugh-ter, 1 son and 4 grandchildren sur-vive her.

GRIEG, Anna Mae, 84, of GlenBurnie, MD passed away Dec. 18,2006. Mae was a member of theAlbert J. Bland Maryland NorthChapter, AXPOW. She is survivedby her husband of 62 years,Leonard (a POW during WWII), 1daughter, 1 son, 5 sisters, 5 grand-children, 4 great-grandchildren and1 great-great-grandchild.

HATCH, Russell, of NorthHaverhill, NH died Dec. 25, 2006.Russell served with the 8th AF as atail gunner on a B-17. He was shotdown over France and held for 13

months. He leaves his wife of 58years, Violet, 1 son, 4 grandchil-dren and 12 great-grandchildren.

HARGROVE, Robert Lee Jr. ofMoore, OK passed away Feb. 10,2007. He was captured at AnzioBeach during WWII while serving inthe Army. He was a POW for 16months. He leaves his wife, IllaMae, one daughter and manyfriends.

HAYS, Edwin W., of Paramus, NJdied Feb. 3, 2007. He was 82. Edwas captured while serving withthe 8th AF, 95th BG. He was shotdown over Denmark and captured.He spent 15 months in POW camps,enduring atrocities such as theHeydekrug Run, which was laterclassified as a war crime. Ed was afrequent speaker and advocate forother ex-POWs, veterans and theirfamilies. He had served as com-mander of the Garden State Chap-ter #1 for the past decade. Survi-vors include his wife of 59 years,Joan, 2 daughters, 1 son, 7 grand-children and 4 great-grandchildren.

HENRY, Lester J., of Hooksett, NH.During WWII, he served in the AirForce. He was captured in Germanyand held at Luft 1, Barth until lib-eration. He is survived by his wife,Alice, 1 daughter, 1 stepdaughter,grandchildren and great-grandchil-dren, sisters, nieces and nephews.

HEPLER, Arnold Wayne, 83, ofGlen Burnie, MD passed away Dec.14, 2006. During WWII, he servedin the 15th AF, 456th BG, 746th BS.He was held prisoner in Bucharest,Romania. Arnold was a life mem-ber of AXPOW and member of theAlbert J. Bland Maryland NorthChapter. He is survived by onedaughter, one son, two sisters andtwo grandchildren.

KENNEY, Dorothy E., of Port Or-chard, WA died Jan. 21, 2007 at the


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taps continued...age of 92. She was the widow ofJames Kenney, who was a JapanesePOW after his ship, the USS Hous-ton was torpedoed. Dorothy was amember of the Kitsap Chapter,AXPOW. She is survived by a sonand one grandson.

KEPHART, Ruth, of Stanley, NDpassed away Oct. 18, 2006. She wasthe widow of Rodney, who was cap-tured at Wake Island. Ruth was alife member of AXPOW and theDakota North Chapter. She is sur-vived by 1 daughter, 4 granddaugh-ters, 1 great-granddaughter and 1brother.

KING Arthur Scott Jr., age 84, ofCanton, NY died Feb. 27, 2007.Arthur served with 78th Division ofthe US Army WWII. He was cap-tured at the Battle of the Bulge. Hewas a member of the former North-ern New York Chapter, AXPOW. Heis survived by one daughter, oneson and 2 grandchildren.

KLINGBELL, Arthur E., age 86, ofEdina, MN passed away Feb. 7,2007. He was captured while serv-ing with the 4th Marines Cavite A.Survivors include Moya and her sonPatrick, 12 nieces and nephews,cousins and many other relativesand friends.

KUDASIK, Joe Jr., 85, of CentralCity, PA died Feb. 10, 2007. Joeserved with the 91st BGG (H), 401st

BS, AAC. His plane was shot downover Frankfurt, Germany; he was aPOW for 15 months. Joe is survivedby his wife, Helen, 4 children and4 grandchildren.

LIBERMAN, Abraham Roke, ofWilmington, DE died Jan. 6, 2007.Roke served with the 91st BG, 324th

BS in Bassingbourne AB in England.He was shot down in Brittany; heevaded capture for a few days un-

til an informant turned him in. Hewas taken to Stalag 17-B and helduntil liberation. Roke is survived byhis wife of 30 years, 2 children, 5stepchildren and 10 grandchildren.

LUSBY, John R. Jr., 90, ofReisterstown, MD passed away Jan.13, 2007. During WWII, he servedin the 45th Div., Thunderbird, 180th

Inf. Reg. (H). He was held prisonerin Stalag II-B for nearly two years.John was a life member of AXPOWand member of the Albert J. BlandMaryland North Chapter. He is sur-vived by one son, one daughter, onesister and four grandchildren.

MCGRATH, Robert Evan, of Port-land, OR died Jan. 12, 2007. Bobserved in the Pacific during WWII.He was captured while serving inthe Army in Korea; he spent 33 ½months as a POW. He is survivedby his wife, Betty, 2 daughters, 1brother, 10 grandchildren and 8great-grandchildren.

MEDZIE, Michael, 84, of Champion,OH died Feb. 17, 2007. He was shotdown over Berlin while serving withthe 8th AF on a B-17. He was a mem-ber of the Mahoning Valley Chap-ter, AXPOW. Surviving are his wife,Norma, 3 children, 5 grandchildren,4 great-grandchildren, 7 sisters and3 brothers.

MILLER, Charles Edwin, 83, ofJoplin, MO died Feb. 2, 2007. Hewas a charter member of the SWMissouri Chapter, AXPOW. DuringWWII, he served as a medic in the1773 service command unit. Hewas captured in France andmarched across Europe until libera-tion. His wife of 55 years, BerdyJune, survives him; he also leaves3 sons and 2 grandsons.

MILLER, Joseph R., of Latrobe, PAdied Nov. 12, 2006. During WWII,he was shot down over Germanywhile serving with the 8th AF, 392nd

BG, 557th BS. He was held captivein Luft 1, Barth. Joe was a memberof the Pittsburgh Chapter, AXPOW.

He leaves his wife of 54 years,Agnes, and three daughters.

MONTAGNA, Dominic, 86, of Bal-

timore, MD passed away Jan. 16,2007. During WWII, he served in theArmy Air Force and was held POWin Stalag XVII-B. Dominic was amember of AXPOW and the AlbertJ. Bland Maryland North Chapter.He is survived by one daughter.

MOODY, Howard E., of Edgefield,SC died Jan. 21, 2007 at the age of88. During WWII, he served with the379th BG, 524th BS, stationed in En-gland. He was a POW in severalPOW camps. He is survived by 1daughter and 1 son.

MORGAN, Harrison W., of VeroBeach, FL died Jan. 19, 2007 at theage of 84. Harrison served with the7th Armored Div. during WWII. Hewas captured at the Battle of theBulge. Survivors include his 4 chil-dren, 8 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

MULLINER, David, of San Diego,CA died Jan. 25, 2007. He was aphotographer with the 15th AF dur-ing WWII, serving with the 461st BG,766th BS. He was shot down whilerecording the results of a bombingrun; he was a POW in Luft 4. Davidwas an active member of the SanDiego Chapter, AXPOW. He will begreatly missed.

OLSZEWSKI, Bernard A. 87, ofGrayslake, IL (formerly of Ft. Myers,FL) died Jan. 10, 2007. He servedwith the 3rd Army, 90th Div., 359th

Inf., K Co. and was a POW in StalagXIIA. Bernard was a member of theSouthwest FL Chapter 100. Survi-vors include his wife, Irene, 5 chil-dren and 5 grandchildren.

PARKER, Kenneth I. , 86, ofGermantown, TN passed away Dec.10, 2006. Ken was the 913th LifeMember of AXPOW and a memberof the Mid-South Chapter.

RUSH, Jacob Roy “Jake”, of Colo-rado Springs, CO died Feb. 8, 2007.He was 84. During WWII, he served


29

taps continued...with the 8th AF, 381st BG, 534th BS.He was a POW in Stalag Luft IV. Jakewas a member of the Rocky Moun-tain Chapter, AXPOW. He is sur-vived by 1 daughter, 3 grandchil-dren and 9 great-grandchildren.

SCHMIDT (KENNEDY), Imogene ofLaCanada, CA passed away March3, 1007. She was 88; with her death,only three “Angels of Bataan” arebelieved to be alive. Jeanne wascaptured by the Japanese on April19, 1942 and remained captive inSanto Tomas until February 3,1945. Her husband, Dick, who wasa civilian POW in the Philippines aswell, died several years ago. She issurvived by one daughter. Jeannewas one of the two nurses who re-wrote lyrics for the then popularsong, Easter Parade just beforetheir capture at Hospital #2:This year’s Easter bonnet Is anArmy helmet- darn it! With olivepaint and chin straps They won’tgive us the eye With all the dustupon it; We surely hate to don itBut we won’t be self-consciousAt the Easter Parade.When some got orders to evacuate,Jeanne would recall that she man-aged to take only her toothbrush,a comb and a flashlight. Those whoknew Jeanne will miss her greatly.

SHEA, Edward P., 81, of Medford,MA died Dec. 25, 2006. He servedwith the 8th AF, 332nd BS duringWWII; he was shot down overFrankfurt and held in Stalag LuftsIII, IV and VI. He is survived by hiswife, Carmela, 2 sons, 1 daughterand 2 grandsons.

SIEBOLD, Charles P., age 81, diedDec. 1, 2006. He was captured inthe Battle of the Bulge while serv-ing with the 106th Inf. Div., 422nd

Reg., Co. B. Chuck was a POW inStalag 4B until liberation. He was awonderful husband to wife,Roberta; he also leaves 4 sons and5 grandchildren.

SULLIVAN, Edward J. Sr., ofWichita, KS died Jan 4, 2007 at theage of 85. During WWII, he servedin the National Guard, joined theArmy, transferred to the AAC andbecame a pilot. He was capturedand held in Stalag Luft 1, Barth. Heis survived by his wife, Gloria, 3sons, 1 daughter, 11 grandchildrenand 13 great-grandchildren.

SUTTON, Freida, 86, of Gainsville,TX died Jan. 30, 2007. She as a lifemember of AXPOW and the Cen-Tex Chapter #1. Her husband, Ex-POW Jerry, predeceased her. She issurvived by two brothers.

THOMAS, William B., of Selma, ALpassed away Dec. 29, 2006. He was91. During WII, he served in the803rd Army Eng. Bn. in the Philip-pines. He was a survivor of theBataan Death March and 3 ½ yearsof captivity. His loving wife prede-ceased him; he is survived by 1daughter and 1 brother.

THOMPSON, Barbara, long-timemember and adjutant of the LowCountry Chapter, AXPOW died Jan.17, 2007. She is survived by 5 sons,16 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Will-iam, had been very active in thechapter; he preceded her in death.

VERMOND, Ernest Blackburn, 82,of Quarryville, PA passed away Dec.12, 2006. During WWII, he servedin the 106th Inf. Co E., 2nd Bn, 422nd

Reg. He was captured during TheBattle of the Bulge; held prisonerin Stalags IX-A and IX-B. Ernie wasa life member of AXPOW and mem-ber of the Albert J. Bland MarylandNorth Chapter. He is survived byhis wife of 47 years, Margaret, 3sons, 1 daughter, 1 sister, 9 grand-children and 2 great-grandchildren.

VIDAL, Donald C., age 88, formermember of the 4th Marines diedFeb. 6, 2007. He was captured andheld in China and the Philippines.He will be deeply missed by hisdevoted wife of 54 years, Lila“Mollie”, 1 brother, 2 grandsons,

and a host of extended family andfriends.

VOGEL, Joe B., 88, of Washington,DC died Feb. 22, 2007. DuringWWII, he was shot down while on abombing mission on the Frenchcoast; he was held in Luft 1, Barth.Dr. Vogel went on to become a USIApress attaché. In 1979, he was sentto Israel for Middle East peace talksbetween President Jimmy Carterand Prime Minister Menachem Be-gin. Dr. Vogel was a member of theChuck Williams Mid-MarylandChapter, AXPOW. He leaves hiswife, Mary, 3 sons, 7 grandchildrenand 1 sister.

WICKENS, Lewis Arthur, 83, ofMound City, MO passed away Jan.24, 2007. He was shot down inGermany while serving with the AirForce; he remained at Luft 1 untilliberation. Lewis was a member ofthe Pony Express Chapter, AXPOW.He was also past State Dept. Com-mander. He is survived by his wifeof 41 years, Lois, 2 sons, 4 grand-children and 1 sister.

WILLIAMS, Margaret E., 85, ofChampaign, IL died March 1, 2007.She was the widow of Ex-POWEdwin. Both were members of AX-POW and the Illiana Chapter. Sur-vivors include two daughters, threegrandchildren and one great-grand-son.

WOLBERT, Robert Lee, 83, of OilCity, PA passed away Feb. 6, 2007.He was captured while serving withthe 96th BG, 413th BS as a waist gun-ner. He spent 13 months in Stalag17B. Survivors include his lovingwife of 61 years, Dorothy, 3 daugh-ters, 2 sons, 10 grandchildren and8 great-grandchildren.

ZICKLER, John P., died Nov. 18,2006. He was a POW in Germanyduring WWII; held in Stalag Lufts6, 4 and 1. He leaves his wife, Jeanand son, John.


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The 106th InfantryDivision Association

Organized atCamp Lucky Strike 1945 active

since 1946

If you are a former 106th Infantry Division vet, wereattached to the 106th,a relative of a 106th veteran, you

are eligible for membership in the Association.Annual Dues $10.00 < > LIFE Membership $75.00

The CUB Magazine has been published everyquarter since August 1946.

Annual Reunions held yearly since 1947.

http://www.mm.com/user/jpk/membership.htmOr contact John Kline, Membership Chairman

Past President ‘97-’98; Editor, The CUB since 1987M Co., 423rd Inf Regiment

11 Harold DriveBurnsville, MN 55337-2786

Phone: 952-890-3155Email: [email protected]

106th Home Page: http://www.mm.com/user/jpk

50/50 drawingLatest winners drawn in Washington, DC

March, 20071st Place $922.72 Russell Kaufman

Mentone CA2nd Place $692.04 Dorothy Farrell

Killeen TX3rd Place $461.36 Gerald & Marylou Andersen Elgin IL4th Place $230.68 Alland Grossman (Mrs.)

These drawings help raise money needed for our operatingexpenses. They allow our members to participate in a veryworthwhile project, while giving them a chance to win. 50%of the donations will be given to the General Fund and theother 50% are awarded as prizes.The amounts are determined after all donations are received.You do not have to be present to win. Please make copies ofthe tickets on the other side and offer them to your Chaptermembers, family and friends. We are asking $5.00 for 6 tickets.These donations are not tax deductible. Fill out the ticketsand send them and your donations to:National Headquarters ~ 50/50 Drawing3201 E. Pioneer Pkway, #40Arlington, TX 76010-5396.Thank you for your support of this very worthwhile project

Ex-POW Bulletin

May 2007

31

PRISONER OF WARFOR 3 ½ YEARS

Twice Forgotten is the

true story of a young manwho grew up too fast.

John F. Kidd enlisted in theNavy in 1939, amid thepatriotic fervor of thetime. Longing for adven-ture and excitement, Mr.Kidd soon found himselfon a ship in the Pacific. He was later captured bythe Japanese and held as a prisoner of war.

In a remarkably lighthearted, often humorous style,John F. Kidd and Erwin C. Winkel II, MD tell thestory of one sailor’s brutal treatment at the handsof his captors.

$13.95 plus S/H($3.00 s/h for first copy; $1.25 s/h each additional)

Send check or money order to:John F. Kidd25411 Beaverwood DriveSpring, TX 77373-8821

HELL & BEYOND,A DIARY OF WAR ANDCAPTIVITY

by Josiah Wistar Worthington, Col. V.C., U.S.ACompiled & edited by Frances Worthington Lipe(Full map of all Japanese POW Camps included)

Send check to: WORTHINGTON BOOKS153 Lake Front DriveBoerne, TX 78006

$50.00 per book (plus $4.13 tax [if applicable] & $5.50 s&h), Total $59.14

“The mostengrossing andscholarly epic Ihave ever seen . . .This is the mostunique accountever written aboutthe wartime ordealof a BataanSurvivor.

You may haveread other journalsand diaries, butnever one likethis.”

RAdm. Charles D. Grojean USN (Ret.) Exec. Director,

Admiral Nimitz Foundation

American Ex-Prisoners of War50/50 Drawing

PLEASE PRINTName:_______________________Telephone: ( )_______

Address:_________________________________________

City/State/Zip:____________________________________

Here is my donation of $5.00 for 6 chances to win the drawing.Prize amounts are determined by the total amount donated.

Mail your donation American Ex-Prisoners of Warand entry to: 50/50 Drawing

3201 E. Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40Arlington, TX 76010-5396

You do not have to be present to win. Your donation is not tax deduct-ible. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Donation not required to enter.Thank you for your support.



Address:_________________________________________

City/State/Zip:____________________________________







Address:_________________________________________

City/State/Zip:____________________________________Here is my donation of $5.00 for 6 chances to win the drawing.

Prize amounts are determined by the total amount donated.Mail your donation American Ex-Prisoners of Warand entry to: 50/50 Drawing





Address:_________________________________________

City/State/Zip:____________________________________







Address:_________________________________________

City/State/Zip:____________________________________







Address:_________________________________________

City/State/Zip:____________________________________Here is my donation of $5.00 for 6 chances to win the drawing.

Prize amounts are determined by the total amount donated.Mail your donation American Ex-Prisoners of Warand entry to: 50/50 Drawing


You do not have to be present to win. Your donation is not tax deduct-ible. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Donation not required to enter.Thank you for your support.Ex-POW Bulletin

May 2007

32


33

Order Your Personalized Autographed Copies of

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For more info call: 888-387-6373, fax: 888-387-6373, e-mail: [email protected]: Veterans Stories, Inc., 95 Uno Lago Dr., Juno Beach, FL 33408 ~ www.vetstories.com

Whether you are a veteran yourself, are related to one or simply enjoy the rights that they fought so hard todefend, this remarkable book will leave you with a heightened admiration for our nation’s best.

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Is this Person a Veteran? Yes: _______ No: ________# of books ________ X $14.50 + $2.50 shipping/handling per book = _________

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Make checks payable to: Veterans Stories, LLC, 95 Uno Lago Dr., Juno Beach, FL 33408 Questions? Call 888-387-6373

request for membership application

American Ex-Prisoners of War

Name: _________________________________________ Address:________________________________________ City/State/Zip:___________________________________

Membership is open to US Military and Civilians captured because of their US citizenship.

Do NOT send dues with this request Life Membership Rates for an application Under 35 $360

36-50 $300 Mail to: 51-60 $180 American Ex-Prisoners of War 61 & over $120 3201 East Pioneer Parkway, #40 Spouse of life member $ 40 Arlington, TX 76010-5936 Annual Membership Rates

Single Membership $ 40 (817) 649-2979 voice Husband & wife $ 50 (817)649-0109 fax e-mail: [email protected]

AXPOW Vest Order FormName________________________________________________________

Address______________________________________________________

City, State, Zip ________________________________________________

Size (Men/coat, Women/chest measurement) __________________________

Long, Regular or Short__________________________________________

Name on front of vest __________________________________________

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Price: $50.00, includes shipping/handlingPlease allow 8-10 weeks for delivery.

Mail orders to:AXPOW NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS3201 East Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40Arlington, Texas 76010-5396

Official AXPOW Cap (specify size) 25.00Maroon AXPOW Sport Cap 8.00Eagle Sport Cap 9.00Vinyl Cap Bag 3.00Barbed Wire pin 2.50Life Member pin 4.00Crossed Flags Lapel pin 4.00Brooch pin 4.00EX-POW pin (goldtone) 4.00Logo pin 4.00POW Stamp pin 2.50Past Chapter Commander pin 4.00Past Department Commander pin 4.00Eagle pin w/Barbed Wire 7.00 (specify gold, silver or antique gold)Necktie w/logo woven in fabric 20.00 (specify regular or pre-tied)AXPOW Logo Bolo Tie 15.00U.S. Flag Bolo Tie 18.50Mini POW Medal Bolo Tie 20.00Goldtone Bolo Bezel w/cord 9.00Logo Necklace & Pierced Earrings 10.002” Medallion (for plaque) 4.00

Vest Chainguard w/eagles 7.00Travel Alarm Clock with case 10.00

3” Blazer Patch 3.504” Blazer Patch 3.508” Blazer Patch 10.00

CLOTH STRIPES (specify which title) 2.00Life Member · Chapter CommanderPast Chapter Commander · Chapter Adj/Treas ChapterAdjutant · Chapter TreasurerState Department CommanderPast State Dept. Commander · Department AdjutantDepartment Treasurer · Sr. Vice CommanderJr. Vice Commander · Chaplain · HistorianService Officer · Legislative OfficerPast Chapter Officer · Past Department Officer

12x18 inch American Flag 5.0012x18 AXPOW Graveside Flag 10.003x5 ft. AXPOW Flag w/3-color logo with fringe, indoor use 60.00 with grommets, outdoor use 60.00

AXPOW Metal License Plate Frame 6.00Aluminum License Plate 4.003” Vinyl Decal 1.003” Inside Decal 1.008” Vinyl Decal 5.0012” Vinyl Decal 10.00Bumper Sticker “Freedom Is Happiness” 2.00Bumper Sticker “Freedom – Ask us” 2.00Magnetic Ribbons 5.00Memorial Seals3 sheets, $1.00; 10 sheets, $3.00; 20 sheets, 5.00AXPOW Daisies (dozen) 1.50 In lots of 12, (ie , 24, 36, 48, etc.-per dozen) 1.25Wall Clock (battery included) 20.00AXPOW Notecards (pkg of 25) 5.00Special Prayer Cards (pkg of 25) 5.00AXPOW Prayer Book 2.00Ladies Prayer Book 1.00POW Medal Poster Print 5.00AXPOW By-Laws 5.00POW Videotape – ETO or Pacific 11.00“Speak Out” Education Packet 6.00Canvas Totebag w/4” logo 15.00

QUANTITY ITEM SIZE / COLOR PRICE

For orders up to 7.99, add $3.00; For orders 8.00 to 24.99, add $7.00For orders 25.00 to 49.99, add $10.00; For orders 50.00 to 99.99, add $13.00For orders over 100.00, add $18.00 Checks/Money Order/Credit Card Accepted.

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MAIL TO:AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR

3201 East Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40Arlington, Texas 76010-5396

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We accept Master Card/Visa

Name Badge Order Form(for members only)AXPOW3201 E Pioneer Pkwy #40Arlington Texas 76010Choice of attachment (check one or we choose)� Pin-on Actual size of badge is 2 1/8" x 3 3/8"� Clip-on (size of a credit card)

PLEASE PRINT:Name __________________________________________Line 1 __________________________________________Line 2 __________________________________________

Name Badge with name & chapter and city……$ 6.00(includes shipping and handling)Ship to:Street ____________________________________________City/State/Zip ______________________________________

Top l/r 1-3: Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution honored Vietnam former POW Navy Cmdr.Douglas Clower and Helen Smith, National Historian during the convention in Houston March 16, 2007. Dougreceived the DAR Medal of Honor Award; Helen received the Service for Veterans Award. L/R: Elmo Baker,USAF (Ret), Douglas Clower USN (Ret), Sally Patterson, TSDAR Americanism Chair, TSDAR Regent Lynn ForneyYoung, Helen Smith, Bill Gauntt USAF (Ret), Charles Stackhouse USN (Ret). Helen with her award. Helen withSgt. Shawn Monroe.

Below: Our own Frank Kravetz was chosen as Citizen of the Year in Chalfant, PA for his decades of workhelping fellow veterans around the country. Here he is, among his memorabilia, holding a model of his B-17;The Mahoning County Fair and the Canfield Harness Horsemen’s Assn. sponsored a “Salute to VeteransDay”. Our AXPOW Chapter (#13) was singled out and honored. They donated a blanket to the winninghorse in the race program. Presenting the blanket: Ike Spack, Norm Swaney and Cmdr. Chuck Myers.

Midyear in Washington, DC

Ordered to

destroy their

American

Flag by their

Japanese

captors, Paul

Spain and his

comrades

saved and

hid the stars.

When

airdrops

brought food

at war’s end,

they used

cloth from

parachutes

and an

old sewing

machine to

make this

flag.

George

Bush Gallery,

Museum of

the Pacific

War, Nimitz

State Histori-

cal Park,

Fredericksburg,

TX.

Thanks to AliceBooher forsubmitting thispicture.

EX-POW BULLETINAmerican Ex-Prisoners of War

We exist to help those who cannot help themselves

Volume 64 Number 5

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May 2007

Inside...MidYear Highlights...National Conventioninfo...News, Outreach, Events...NSO success stories...and more

Armed Forces Day, May 19, 2007

AXPOW Vests!

The uniform of the American Ex-POWs consists of themilitary cap and the vest. These vests are custom-made withyour name on the front, and your chapter and logo shield onthe back. Orders take approximately six weeks to complete.Order now to wear at National Convention!

$50.00 each, includes shipping/handling

For pins, vest guards and other items to “dress up” your vest, order

from the merchandise page inside.

axpow vests! ex-pow bulletinaxpow officers & directors 2006-2007 national headquarters - clydie...

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