March 2013

Chapter 1067 Becomes a 50th Anniversary Commemorative Sponsor

VVA will be here for as long as it takes to make sure that those who serve our country receive the care

and respect they have earned.

Fur, Fangs and FeathersThe Assorted Pets of American Servicemen in Vietnam By Mary Bruzzese

From the January/February issue of The VVA Veteran.

www.vvadonations.orgTo donate, call 888-518-8387

VVA’s pickup service collects new and gently used clothing and household donations to support our vets.

Retired Army Gen. Claude Kicklighter, the head of the Vietnam War 50th An-niversary Commemoration Committee, presented a United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration flag to Huntsville, Alabama Chapter 1067. The chapter was “the first veterans’ organization in the state to become a commemorative sponsor,” Chapter President Warren Harmon said.

“America’s greatest heroes are those men and women who rest under head-stones... They gave all their tomorrows for our freedom and when you are 18 or 19, that’s a high price to pay,” Kicklighter said during the ceremony.

“With the Effingham County Veterans Park designation you are making a great contribution to this region and the nation by thanking the Vietnam vets,” Kicklighter said. “It corrects an injustice and a wrong that was done 50 years ago.”

A second flag was presented to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, marking that Alabama was the first state to become a commemorative sponsor. The Alabama State Council received a third flag in recognition of its sponsorship.

Earlier, in October 2012, a commemorative flag was also presented to VVA President John Rowan during VVA’s National Board of Directors meeting in Silver Spring, Md., on the occasion of VVA becoming a commemorative sponsor. n

For most of the young American men and women serv-ing in Vietnam, it was often a lonesome experience. They were homesick. Days were filled with long hours of tedium or the terror of combat. Tight friendships offered a great deal of relief. Many also turned to pets.

Vietnam was crawling with animals. Stray dogs and cats wandered through cities and village streets and skulked around base camps and firebases. Exotic animals were taken by service-men from the jungles or else purchased from Vietnamese vendors. Whether owned communally or by individuals, pets were almost always a group experience. Sometimes the animals were named the unit mascot. But most often they were simply companions.

To read the full article visit http://vvaveteran.org.

CALIFORNIA

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 404 of Borger, Texas, plans to award a Hutchinson County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarship to four graduating seniors from local districts. The 2013 essay theme is “The Effect of the Media on the Vietnam War.”

Above: Gen. Claude Kicklighter, presents commemorative flag to Huntsville, Alabama, Chapter 1067.

Left: President of the Commemoration Committee presents 50th Anniversary Commemorative Flag to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley.

VVA ChApteRs ACROssAmeRICA Helping Veterans, Communities, and Those Serving in Harm’s Way

>> More chapter news continued inside

VietnAm VeterAnS of AmeriCA     8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910   www.vva.orgVietnAm VeterAnS of AmeriCA     8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910   www.vva.org

To request a copy of VVA’s national magazine, The VVA Veteran, call 301-585-4000, ext. 151. To subscribe, send $20 to: The VVA Veteran Subscriptions, P.O. Box 64306, Baltimore, MD 21264. To join VVA, mail a completed application form, along with a copy of your DD-214 and $20 annual membership dues to: Vietnam Veterans of America Membership 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Jack Shannon and Nate

Peter Beisser and Lady

Jose Hernandez and Knudsen

Tony Molina and his monkey

N e w s B r i e f s f r o m V V A

Report toAction

DeLAwARe

Kent County Chapter 850 unveiled and dedicated a new memorial to Delaware’s Gold Star Mothers and Families, in conjunction with the Delaware Veterans Commission. The memorial is located at the Kent County Veterans Memorial Park. Chapter 850 raised money to build the memorial over a two-month period in 2012 and dedicated it to all gen-erations of Delaware’s Gold Star families this past Veterans Day.

Locals came out in support of veterans during Chicago’s Welcome Home Parade.

Above: Keynote speaker, retired Navy pilot Charlie Plumb, was a POW in North Vietnam for more than six years.

Left: Local community groups, musicians, speak-ers and performers came out to commemorate the event and celebrate the Navy’s birthday.

Left: Gold Star Mothers president Pauline Anderson of Wilmington proudly unveils the Gold Star Mothers and Families memorial Monday afternoon at Kent County Veterans Memorial park as part of the Kent County Vietnam Veterans of America Veterans Day ceremony.

After the unveiling at the Gold Star memorial, Terri and Rich Clifton of Milford walk toward the monument to unveil a brick with the name of their son, Marine Lance Cpl. Richard Chad Clifton, who was killed in Iraq in 2005.

Kent County Vietnam Veterans of America president Joe Startt of Leipsic kneels in prayer as he and Kathy Steele, president of Chapter 850 AVVA, place wreaths at the base of the Vietnam Veterans of America memorial on Monday.

Photos by Dave Chambers/Delaware State News

www.vva.org

VVA ChApteRs ACROss AmeRICAHelping Veterans, Communities, and Those Serving in Harm’s Way

peNNsyLVANIA

The Michael J. Novosel M.O.H. Capitol Chapter 542 in Harrisburg sponsored an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and to celebrate the 237th birthday of the U.S. Navy. A performance by the Susquehanna High School band and a low-altitude flyover of a C5 Galaxy welcomed attendees.

ILLINOIs

Members of Jefferson Park Chapter 242, along with thousands of other veterans and active service members participated in a post-9-11 veterans Welcome Home parade in Chicago. Harry Bayne, Jim Talley, Kevin Calkins, Larry Langowski, and Roger McGill marched behind Tom Stack, who chaired the 1986 Chicago Welcome Home Parade for Vietnam Veterans.

GeORGIA

All 50 members of the Cumming, Georgia, Chapter 1030 contributed recipes for a new cookbook, “Some Gave All.” More than 200 recipes are included, from southern-style cornbread to ethnic main dishes. Cookbooks are on sale throughout the Cumming area, and will raise funds to support the chapter’s work on behalf of all veterans and the community

Army Spc. 4th Class Nicholas J. Cutinha was killed in Vietnam in 1968 and earned a Medal of Honor. Duval County Chapter 1046 was recently renamed in his honor. Photo credit: Ray Breault

Nicholas J. Cutinha

FLORIDA

Medal of Honor recipient Nicholas J. Cutinha, born in Fernandina Beach, Florida, was recently honored by having a VVA chapter named after him. The Nicholas J. Cutinha Chapter 1046 of Duval County, Florida, changed its name in November 2012 to honor Cutinha’s actions which saved the lives of at least 9 members of his company, despite being seriously wounded. He and 48 others died in Vietnam in an ambush on March 2, 1968.

New yORk

Western New York Chapter 77 recently expanded and relocated its facility to include a museum, with a storefront location in Tonawanda. The 1,900-square foot facility show-cases hundreds of historical items and mementos from the Vietnam era, many of which had been in storage. Books, photos, uniforms, sandbags and other memorabilia are on display, and the museum is open two days per week.

VVA Chapter 77 moved to a new location that provides the chapter with much more room for its extensive displays and exhibits.

DeLAwARe

Kent County Chapter 850 unveiled and dedicated a new memorial to Delaware’s Gold Star Mothers and Families, in conjunction with the Delaware Veterans Commission. The memorial is located at the Kent County Veterans Memorial Park. Chapter 850 raised money to build the memorial over a two-month period in 2012 and dedicated it to all gen-erations of Delaware’s Gold Star families this past Veterans Day.

Locals came out in support of veterans during Chicago’s Welcome Home Parade.

Above: Keynote speaker, retired Navy pilot Charlie Plumb, was a POW in North Vietnam for more than six years.

Left: Local community groups, musicians, speak-ers and performers came out to commemorate the event and celebrate the Navy’s birthday.

Left: Gold Star Mothers president Pauline Anderson of Wilmington proudly unveils the Gold Star Mothers and Families memorial Monday afternoon at Kent County Veterans Memorial park as part of the Kent County Vietnam Veterans of America Veterans Day ceremony.

After the unveiling at the Gold Star memorial, Terri and Rich Clifton of Milford walk toward the monument to unveil a brick with the name of their son, Marine Lance Cpl. Richard Chad Clifton, who was killed in Iraq in 2005.

Kent County Vietnam Veterans of America president Joe Startt of Leipsic kneels in prayer as he and Kathy Steele, president of Chapter 850 AVVA, place wreaths at the base of the Vietnam Veterans of America memorial on Monday.

Photos by Dave Chambers/Delaware State News

www.vva.org

VVA ChApteRs ACROss AmeRICAHelping Veterans, Communities, and Those Serving in Harm’s Way

peNNsyLVANIA

The Michael J. Novosel M.O.H. Capitol Chapter 542 in Harrisburg sponsored an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and to celebrate the 237th birthday of the U.S. Navy. A performance by the Susquehanna High School band and a low-altitude flyover of a C5 Galaxy welcomed attendees.

ILLINOIs

Members of Jefferson Park Chapter 242, along with thousands of other veterans and active service members participated in a post-9-11 veterans Welcome Home parade in Chicago. Harry Bayne, Jim Talley, Kevin Calkins, Larry Langowski, and Roger McGill marched behind Tom Stack, who chaired the 1986 Chicago Welcome Home Parade for Vietnam Veterans.

GeORGIA

All 50 members of the Cumming, Georgia, Chapter 1030 contributed recipes for a new cookbook, “Some Gave All.” More than 200 recipes are included, from southern-style cornbread to ethnic main dishes. Cookbooks are on sale throughout the Cumming area, and will raise funds to support the chapter’s work on behalf of all veterans and the community

Army Spc. 4th Class Nicholas J. Cutinha was killed in Vietnam in 1968 and earned a Medal of Honor. Duval County Chapter 1046 was recently renamed in his honor. Photo credit: Ray Breault

Nicholas J. Cutinha

FLORIDA

Medal of Honor recipient Nicholas J. Cutinha, born in Fernandina Beach, Florida, was recently honored by having a VVA chapter named after him. The Nicholas J. Cutinha Chapter 1046 of Duval County, Florida, changed its name in November 2012 to honor Cutinha’s actions which saved the lives of at least 9 members of his company, despite being seriously wounded. He and 48 others died in Vietnam in an ambush on March 2, 1968.

New yORk

Western New York Chapter 77 recently expanded and relocated its facility to include a museum, with a storefront location in Tonawanda. The 1,900-square foot facility show-cases hundreds of historical items and mementos from the Vietnam era, many of which had been in storage. Books, photos, uniforms, sandbags and other memorabilia are on display, and the museum is open two days per week.

VVA Chapter 77 moved to a new location that provides the chapter with much more room for its extensive displays and exhibits.

March 2013

Chapter 1067 Becomes a 50th Anniversary Commemorative Sponsor

VVA will be here for as long as it takes to make sure that those who serve our country receive the care

and respect they have earned.

Fur, Fangs and FeathersThe Assorted Pets of American Servicemen in Vietnam By Mary Bruzzese

From the January/February issue of The VVA Veteran.

www.vvadonations.orgTo donate, call 888-518-8387

VVA’s pickup service collects new and gently used clothing and household donations to support our vets.

Retired Army Gen. Claude Kicklighter, the head of the Vietnam War 50th An-niversary Commemoration Committee, presented a United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration flag to Huntsville, Alabama Chapter 1067. The chapter was “the first veterans’ organization in the state to become a commemorative sponsor,” Chapter President Warren Harmon said.

“America’s greatest heroes are those men and women who rest under head-stones... They gave all their tomorrows for our freedom and when you are 18 or 19, that’s a high price to pay,” Kicklighter said during the ceremony.

“With the Effingham County Veterans Park designation you are making a great contribution to this region and the nation by thanking the Vietnam vets,” Kicklighter said. “It corrects an injustice and a wrong that was done 50 years ago.”

A second flag was presented to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, marking that Alabama was the first state to become a commemorative sponsor. The Alabama State Council received a third flag in recognition of its sponsorship.

Earlier, in October 2012, a commemorative flag was also presented to VVA President John Rowan during VVA’s National Board of Directors meeting in Silver Spring, Md., on the occasion of VVA becoming a commemorative sponsor. n

For most of the young American men and women serv-ing in Vietnam, it was often a lonesome experience. They were homesick. Days were filled with long hours of tedium or the terror of combat. Tight friendships offered a great deal of relief. Many also turned to pets.

Vietnam was crawling with animals. Stray dogs and cats wandered through cities and village streets and skulked around base camps and firebases. Exotic animals were taken by service-men from the jungles or else purchased from Vietnamese vendors. Whether owned communally or by individuals, pets were almost always a group experience. Sometimes the animals were named the unit mascot. But most often they were simply companions.

To read the full article visit http://vvaveteran.org.

CALIFORNIA

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 404 of Borger, Texas, plans to award a Hutchinson County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarship to four graduating seniors from local districts. The 2013 essay theme is “The Effect of the Media on the Vietnam War.”

Above: Gen. Claude Kicklighter, presents commemorative flag to Huntsville, Alabama, Chapter 1067.

Left: President of the Commemoration Committee presents 50th Anniversary Commemorative Flag to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley.

VVA ChApteRs ACROssAmeRICA Helping Veterans, Communities, and Those Serving in Harm’s Way

>> More chapter news continued inside

VietnAm VeterAnS of AmeriCA     8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910   www.vva.orgVietnAm VeterAnS of AmeriCA     8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910   www.vva.org

To request a copy of VVA’s national magazine, The VVA Veteran, call 301-585-4000, ext. 151. To subscribe, send $20 to: The VVA Veteran Subscriptions, P.O. Box 64306, Baltimore, MD 21264. To join VVA, mail a completed application form, along with a copy of your DD-214 and $20 annual membership dues to: Vietnam Veterans of America Membership 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Jack Shannon and Nate

Peter Beisser and Lady

Jose Hernandez and Knudsen

Tony Molina and his monkey

N e w s B r i e f s f r o m V V A

Report toAction