FORT LOWELL-APACHE CHAPTER

THE CHIEF SAYS

Unfortunately, due to the holidays, work, etc President Ron was unable to contribute a column this month.

USAWOA UPDATES

Our parent organization has started 2004 with a bang.

Webmaster CW5-R Dave Welsh has brought our new website on-line so you are all invited to check it out at www.usawoa.org. Go ahead, it’s free.

NEWS FOR ALL

We need every member to come to this month’s meeting to give our new officers the word as to where and when we want to hold our regular meetings.

As you can see we need to really discuss whether or not we should continue to meet on the third Monday of the month because Congress has selected those days for the various holidays that can be made into three or four day weekends.

Also, several members have asked if we can meet someplace other than the American Legion Hall.

We have now identified 40 Army warrant officers living in Tucson and we are sure there are even more that we have yet to identify. If any member knows of any other heretofore unidentified WO please let Joe Gill know so we can continue to grow.

Is maintenance as bad as they say it is?

CALENDAR

Happy New Year Jan 01

M.L. King Day Jan 19

Member Meeting Jan 19

FWHS JROTC Ball Jan 24

Groundhog Day Feb 02

Arizona Admission Day Feb 14

Presidents’ Day Feb 16

Member Meeting Feb 16

Mardi Gras Feb 24

Fort Lowell Designated May 20

2004 AMM-VA Oct 10-15

2005 AMM-Tucson Oct TBA

(Subject to Change)

CHAPTER OFFICERS

President Ron James

520-219-3337 rjames3988@aol.com

Vice President/Editor Joe Gill

520-458-4099 joegill1@cox.net

Secretary Vin Baiocchetti

520-742-5302 vbaio@comcast.net

Treasurer Arthur Schmid

520-574-0399 cw3Art@aol.com

Historian            Leonard Wilfong

520-790-6198 len23@aol.com

(CUT ME OUT)

GR 8 EXPERIENCE

On Thursday, 11 December your Veep was privileged to spend the day with some outstanding high school students—members of the Flowing Wells High School JROTC Battalion.

The day included conducting open ranks Class A inspection of all 6 classes and the opportunity of letting them know about our Corps. There was interest in the “High School to Flight School” program.

This experience is open to all Chapter members-with Class B uniforms that fit so if you are interested contact President Ron.

Everyone needs to be
at our WOA meeting
on January 19th.

JROTC BALL

We are all invited and encouraged to join together on Saturday 24 January at the D-M AFB NCO Club when the Flowing Wells High School JROTC will be holding their Annual Military Dinner and Ball.

This is a great opportunity to meet the fine young people we are supporting and to let them see us.

For those with Dress Blues, Mess Dress or Class A that still fit, these young people will be able to check out our ‘been there-done that ribbons.

RSVP by check to President Ron as follows:

Before 1-9-04: $18ea/$30Couple

After 1-9-04: $20ea/$35 Couple

2004 AMM

This photo is of the Holiday Inn in Leesburg, VA where our 2004 Annual Meeting of USAWOA will be held.

All Fort Lowell-Apache Chapter members are encouraged to plan to attend the AMM to see how one works so we can make our 2005 AAM, here in Tucson, run smooth and be the best ever.




 
  
  
   
    
    
    TUCSON DOUBLETREE
    
    
   
  
   
 


 Here is what we have to offer.

INFO 4 VETERANS

 - The National Personnel Records Center is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180 which can be downloaded from the online web site. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time. Also, because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. Veterans and next of kin may access this application at vetrecs.archives.gov.

-Service members, veterans and federal employees who served between September 2, 1945 and December 26, 1991 are still eligible for a Cold War Recognition Certificate, said officials of the U.S. Army Personnel Command. In fiscal 1998, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding the certificate to personnel who served during the Cold War. Thus far, about one million people have responded out of the 22 million entitled to receive the certificate, officials said. For more information and an application, visit https://coldwar.army.mil. Applications will be accepted only by fax or mail, officials said.

- Beginning May 30, U.S. post offices began offering a first-class postage stamp honoring the nation's oldest military decoration – the Purple Heart. The first day of issue was held at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. Washington ordered the creation of the Purple Heart citation in 1782 during the Revolutionary War, originally as a "Badge of Distinction for meritorious action." Today, the Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in action.

- Your online source of information on military retirement benefits has a new Address.

http://www.armyg1.army.mil/retire.

- Certain disabled military retirees may be eligible for Combat-Related Special Compensation effective May 31. CRSC was enacted by Congress as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 Defense Authorization Act. To be eligible, a military retiree must have at least 20 years of active duty or a combination of active duty and Reserve points equaling 20 years of full-time active duty (7200 points). The retiree must also have either a disability rating of 10 percent or higher associated with award of a Purple Heart; or a disability rating of 60 percent or higher for other illnesses or injuries attributed to combat, combat-oriented training, or hazardous duty. CRSC is not granted automatically. Retirees who believe they are eligible must apply for the benefit.

OUR ROOTS

Thought some of us would be interested in what Fort Lowell looks like today and a little history.

Fort Lowell was established on May 20, 1862 and originally located in the city of Tucson, where it occupied several sites.

On March 19, 1873, it was moved to a site south of Rillito Creek. Originally called the Post of Tucson, it then became Camp Lowell and on April 5, 1879 designated Fort Lowell after BG Charles Lowell who died of wounds during the Civil War.

SUPPORT

OUR

CHAPTER/CORPS

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

Looking back to 1903 we find:

o        Average US life expectancy 47-

o        US births in home-95+%

o        US homes with bathtubs-14%

o        US homes with telephones-8%

o        3-Minute call from Denver to NYC-$11.00

o        US Automobiles-8,000

o        US Paved Roads-144 miles

o        US Max  speed limit-10 mph

o        No 21 in Population-California

o        Tallest Structure-Eiffel Tower

o        Average US wage-22 cents/hr

o        Average US wage-$200-400/yr

o        US Account-$2,000/yr

o        US Dentist-$2,500/yr

o        US Veterinaria-$1500-4000/yr

o        Doctors w/o college-90%

o        Leading causes of death:

1.       Pneumonia & Influenza

2.       Tuberculosis

3.       Diarrhea

4.       Heart disease

5.       Stroke

o        Sugar cost 4 cents/pound

o        Eggs cost 14 cents/dozen

o        Coffee cost 15 cents/pound

o        US Flag-Only 45 Stars

o        Population of Las Vegas -30

o        Not yet in existence

1.       Crossword Puzzles

2.       Canned Beer

3.       Iced tea

4.       Mother’s Day

5.       Father’s Day

o        Who could write-1 in 10 Adults

o        US High School Grads-6%

o        Coca Cola contained cocaine

o        Marijuana, heroin & morphine were over the counter drugs

o        US households with at least one full time servant-18%

o        Reported murders in US-230

o        US Gun laws-none

Now that we’ve seen what the last 100 years have brought, I wonder what the people of 2103 will find happened in the 21^st Century.

BLOND QUOTES

“I was on a date recently and the guy took me horseback riding. That was kind of fun, until we ran out of quarters.”

“Why do we wash towels? Aren’t we clean when we use them?”

“I have learned thee is little differences in husbands: you might as well keep the first (or second).”