Volume XC Issue No. 4 August/September 2013

New Car and 2 Large-Screen HD TV’s Raffle Tickets Still Available!

A brand new Nissan Versa and two large-screen HD TV’s are the prizes in this raffle. There are tickets still avail-able and we hope to sell the tickets so we can draw for the prizes at the Labor Day Picnic on September 2.Tickets are $25 each and are available in the Social Club.

It is an honor to be the new Commander of Post 16. I look forward to working with everyone and I appreciate the volunteers at Post 16. The annual Beef Roast is coming up on October 5, 2013 for those members who have paid their dues. The Beef Roast is free and we will be eating in the building this year.

Jerry “Doc” Bumgarner, Commander

editor’s note:The June/July 2012 Dispatch featured an article about Doc Bumgarner. The cover showed a picture from August 1969 in Quang Tri, Vietnam of Doc and his friend Ken “Buzzy” Coleman. Beneath that picture was a picture of their reunion in 2005, 36 years later. They were Navy Corpsmen attached to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. Bumgarner was hit twice during his service and once refused to be flown to a hospital since there were so few corpsmen still standing. He received two purple hearts for his wounds.

From the Commander

Past Department Sgt-At-Arms Robert Cardwell has been appointed as the Dept JROTC Drill Team Competition Chairman. His primary duty is to en-sure that all of the high schools in the state with Armed JROTC drill teams participate in American Legion Dept Competitions, adhere to the guide-lines during their practices, and participating in the Dept Annual State Competitions. Robert is a Past Tenth District and two term Post 16 Commander.

Congratulations Robert!

Post 16 Member Robert Cardwellis Appointed to Department Chair

Only 1,000 were printed for this raffle, so if you buy only 1 ticket your odds of winning are about 1 in 333! Get your tickets before they’re gone.

HDTV’s are similar to this one

Ladies of the ALA Unit 16- It’s hard to believe we are wrapping up the 2013-14 year! Thank you for all of your diligence and hard work on an incredibly suc-cessful year for the Auxiliary. We hosted our annual Poppy Appreciation dinner on July 18th and owe a big Thank You to Bob Woods and the Social Club staff for letting us use the club for our dinner. We were blessed by a tremendous turnout to include MSgt Duperior, Tammy Betterton, and crew from Heritage High School JROTC, Army Recruiter Stephen Hirschman and wife Candice as well as two of our young-est Poppy volunteers Cullen and Baby Hirschman! We had a few new Poppy Volunteers to include Erica Peters - and her stepping in took the Pribble Family to 4 generations of Volunteers this year in Honor of Ernest Pribble who were Myrtle Pribble, Lavon Nance, Angela Mack-zum, and Erica Peters. Other new volunteers included Nicole Wagner, Anna Claeys and kiddies who called to ask how they could help and stepped right into Serving our Veterans through the Poppy Campaign!! And finally a Big Thank You to our Legion Family Volunteers who stepped up big - Veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan all went out in the Community to distribute Poppies and Honor those they served alongside of! We were definitely blessed this year and Department took notice....because of all of the efforts of each Volunteer we were awarded with the Poppy Convention Award for the year 2012-13. Congratulations Unit 16 - while we do not do what we do to be recognized it is an Honor to have those at the upper level notice your hard work! At Department Convention, Cindy Kokernak was announced as the President for the Department of Virginia. Cindy has faithfully served the American Legion Auxiliary for more than 12 years and has a heart to meet the needs of our Veterans, Military, and Family mem-bers in the Spirit of “Service Not Self”. President Kokernak’s theme for the 2013-14 Year is “Star Spangled Service Southern Style” and we look forward to the activities and challenges as we prepare to Serve Our Veterans. I would like to Congratulate Ann Woods for earning the Auxiliary Lady of the Year for our Unit. Our membership numbers soared this year and Ann stayed on top of her game to make sure the T’s were crossed and I’s were dotted for our Unit. The task of membership is not an easy one on any year but Ann had quite a job as our membership jumped to over 150%. As we look at how much we have grown we are excited to invite new Auxiliary members to our Open House scheduled for October 3, 2012 at 7pm. If you have joined the Auxiliary within the past 3 years we would love to have you come out for an evening of “Star Span-gled Service Southern Style”. We anticipate a great night of Fellowship and it definitely would not be the same without you. This will be an informal evening of getting to know one another, light refreshments will be served, and you will receive your Auxiliary Unit Pin. Finally, We have put on the Calendar our Annual Yard, Craft, and Vendor Sale for Saturday November 2. We will be in the main hall this year. Last year was a great success and we are expecting this year to be bigger and better! If you have items you would like to donate we will make arrangements for pick up if necessary. Vendors and Crafters call early to reserve your table! If you are interested in helping or would like to reserve a table please contact Madeline at (434)332-1198 or (434)238-5745.

Calendar-

Thank you to all who have donated their time and efforts to the American Legion and Auxiliary. What an Honor it is to serve our Nation’s best...the Veteran! Gods Blessings, Angela MackzumPresident, ALA Unit 16434-426-1009 - comacfamily4@aol.com

Pictures - Clockwise L-R1- Yael Hirschman - our youngest Poppy Volunteer, 2- Ernest Pribble (Died 2001) - member of Post 16. Served on Honor Guard. He faithfully volunteered every year for Mrs Gladys on Poppy’s. 3- Stephen, Candice, Cullen, and Yael Hirschman. They have volunteered for 3 straight years now. 4- Anna and Nicole & kiddies - New volunteers

August 1 5:30-6:30 School Supplies Available August 1 7pm Board MeetingAugust 3 9:00-11:00 School Supplies available

August 15 5:30-6:30 School Supplies AvailableAugust 15 7pm Regular MeetingSept 19 7pm Regular Meeting

Volume XC Issue No. 4The American Legion

Post 16 Dispatch

Published bi-monthly as a free publication to our mem-bers. Advertising inquiries, change of address, ideas for articles, comments, etc.; submit to:

Post 16 Dispatchc/o editor Bobby RickettsAmerican Legion Post 161301 Greenview DriveLynchburg, VA 24502-2707Deadline for articles is the 15th of the month prior to the issue month. Editor: Bobby Ricketts post16editor@verizon.net

Website: www.amlegionvapost16.orgWebmaster: Lynn Franz

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed herein are those of the editor or columnist, and are not necessarily those of the National, Depart-ment, District or the American Legion Post. Publication of adver-tisements does not imply endorsement by the American Legion of the products, service or officers advertised or profiled.

Pop WhittenSandra CawthorneCharles HeusleinBill BrownWebster WarrickFrank LeonardJanie AdkinsPeggy Bruffy

Robert AllisonJanny GilbertRg RamseySonny RogersHerb CraftPatricia RiceRay FranzHaden Laughlin

Connie OwenWebster WarrickWarren WatkinsAlthea ThrockmortonJimmy CunninghamHerbert ‘Al’ ThompsonNick Mays

- Sick Call -

The American Legion Post 16August/September 2013

Post 16 Dispatch

Maurice MillnerOtto DavisHerb CraftCalvin Smith

Leslie BakerJim FishelBob WoodsHaden Laughlin

Commander - Jerry “Doc” Bumgarner1st Vice - John Cooper

2nd Vice - Wayne Dooley3rd Vice - Doc Reed

Adjutant - Frank LeonardFinance Officer - Dawn Reed

Sgt-At-Arms - Loyd Woodford

Executive Board

Records from our Honor Guard, record-ed from Veterans Funeral Services from May to June 2013, were used for this list. Please contact us if you know of a Vet-eran who died since May 2013 that you would like added to this list next issue. God Bless these Veterans for their ser-vice to our country.

Marvin WeigandJohn Evers

Denton WilesLawrence Ware, Jr

James ScruggsLouis LambertClinton TyreeRoy Rardin

Alice Morris-PerryGustav Stalling IIIHerbert Brockman

Claude May

Calendar of Events15 - Membership Meeting 7pm17 - AL Riders Legacy Run 21 - AL Riders Meeting 7pm

August2 - Labor Day Picnic 1-5PM18 - AL Riders Meeting 7pm19 - Membership Meeting 7pm20 - VA AL Riders Rally Begins

September

Jerry Goff and his crew did an excellent job on the brickwork around the new sign. Thanks for the donation to Post 16!

Poppy Appreciation Dinner

Coming up: October 5- Annual Beef Roast -

The Post 16 Annual Beef Roast will be on October 5, 2013.All members who have paid their dues are welcome free of charge. Please pay your dues as soon as possible. The Post relies on these funds to carry out its mission.

MemorialDay

Cookout2013

Calvin Smith’s grand-son worked with his mother on one of the beverage stations at the Memorial Day cookout and did a great job.

Volunteers of all ages can make a difference at Post 16 to help our Veterans!

Post 16 Uniform Group

I would like to thank everyone who helped with the Memorial Day Cookout and the 4th of July Chicken BBQ. Thanks to Donnie Childress & his crew who took over the duties of cooking for Memorial Day. Also to Donnie Callahan, and his helpers, for the hard work getting the BBQ pit ready for the 4th of July and all the preparation and cooking of the great food that was enjoyed by everyone. Too Bad the weather didn’t cooperate. However, by all accounts, everyone who attended had a good time. Remember, we have music in the Social Club on Wed, Fri, & Sat evenings. Come out and enjoy a nice evening. We are again back on schedule with food on these evenings. The music schedule is posted in the Social Club. If anyone is interested in playing shuffle board on a regular basis, please see Blake or leave your information with the bartended. We would like to get something started beginning in September. I am working on a Labor Day cookout. Watch for more information at the Social Club, in The Burg, or in the News & Advance. Hopefully we will have all the tickets sold for the car raffle and we can pull a winner that day. Get your tickets now since they are limited. Only 1000 tickets are available. 2nd prize is a 50” TV and the 3rd prize is a 39” TV. Again, thanks to all the bartenders for their time and effort to keep everything going along smoothly. Remember they are all volunteers, so please thank them for their service. Also, don’t forget the people who have been fixing the food for your pleasure. Thanks to everyone who helps to keep the place clean and well stocked. In lasts month’s newsletter I forgot to thank Jerry Goff and his crew for the excellent brick work they did around our new digital sign. It really makes the front of the building very attractive. THANKS again, Jerry for your donation. Also thanks to all the people who have worked hard mowing this summer and help to keep up the grounds and pick up the garbage at the lake.October 19, 2013 - We will be having a Dance with the band Vokal Fuzion playing. Starts at 7:30 PM. $10 PP. Tickets will be available at the Social Club after August 1st. Limited number of tickets so get yours NOW.Social Club Lockers - The American Legion new year starts July 1 and we will be cleaning out all of the lockers with dues not paid. We need to update our lockers because since our move to the new area, the locket list was misplaced. Please contact the Social Club if you have a locker and let us know the number. After September 1, 2013 all lockers unaccounted for, with dues not paid, will be cleaned out.

Bob Woods, Club Manager

The Post 16 Honor Guard is in great need of help so we may continue rendering Military Funeral Honors to our deceased vet-erans. Those who willingly give of themselves by becoming an Honor Guard volunteer are truly a breed apart. Members of the Honor Guard take great pride in upholding their high standards and fulfilling their mission of, “Honoring those who Served.” This is a service we must continue for our veterans, however we need your help. If you can dedicate any amount of time to this worthy service to our veterans, please contact:

Sergeant-at-Arms - 434-401-0423Please come forward to join with your comrades-in-arms to show respect and honor to our comrades who have passed on.

“A veteran has died, and his comrades-in-arms are saluting him with Military Honors one last time”

Music in Social Club

2 - Angie3 - Keith & Co7 - Billy Taylor9 - Jim Murphy10 - Prime Cut Band

14 - Bill & Betty16 - Mike Farlow17 - William Bros21 - Eddie Brooks23 - Michelle Drake

24 - Bigun Bros28 - Tonya30 - Mike Farlow31 - Chase BandAugust

2 - BRB Band - Labor Day Picnic!4 - Angie6 - Keith & Co7 - Prime Cut Band

11 - Bill & Betty13 - Rick Osborne14 - William Bros18 - Billy Taylor

20 - Mike Farlow21 - Bigun Bros25 - Tonya28 - Chase Band

September

Labor Day Picnic - September 2 - 1-5 PM. Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Brats, BBQ, and more. Advance Tix $10 (Day of - $15), Kids 7-12 $5, Kids 6 and under - Free. Music by BRB Band. Drawings: 32” HD TV, 4-Burner Gas Grill, Home Entertainment Center.

Social Club

Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and require the aid and attendance of another person, or are housebound, may be eli-gible for additional monetary payment. These benefits are paid in addition to monthly pension, and they are not paid without eligibility to Pension.Since Aid and Attendance and Housebound allowances increase the pension amount, people who are not eligible for a basic pension due to ex-cessive income may be eligible for pension at these increased rates. A Veteran or surviving spouse may not receive Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits at the same time.Aid & Attendance (A&A)The Aid & Attendance (A&A) increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension amount if you meet one of the following conditions: 1- You require the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment. 2- You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities requires that you remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treat-ment. 3- You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity. 4- Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less.Housebound - This increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension amount when you are substantially confined to your immediate premises because of permanent disability.How to Apply - You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by writing to the VA regional office where you filed a claim for pension benefits, or if not known file with any VA regional office. You should include copies of evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound type care. The report should be in sufficient detail to determine whether there is disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs, and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable. Whether the claim is for Aid and Attendance or Housebound, the report should indicate how well the applicant gets around, where the applicant goes, and what he or she is able to do during a typical day. In addition, it is necessary to determine whether the claimant is confined to the home or immediate premises.

Bob Kibler - Veteran Service OfficerSource for this article is www.benefits.va.gov/pension

Service Officer Report - Aid and Attendance Benefits

For more information contact VA at (800) 827-1000 or the Service Officer for American Legion Post 16 at (434) 401-7335 for assistance. The office, located in American Legion Post 16 home at 1301 Greenview Drive, Lynchburg, is open for walk-ins 10 am to 3 pm on Tuesdays and by appointment (10 am to 3 pm) on Thursdays.

I hope this finds all Post 16 members dry and your possessions undamaged from the re-cent Wind and Rain. It has caused us to cancel a couple of rides. However we did finish our Motorcycle Raffle. The winner was a Post 16 member, Ronnie Powell. Congratulations Ronnie. I had in the last Dispatch that our newest ALR chapter Crewe Post 50 was hav-ing a Poker Run 6/1. We had a good showing at that event. Post 16 ALR members who participated were Sted Gray, Jack McLaughlin, Jimmy Carson, Richard Berkley, Lynn Bo-teler, Jim Fishel, Marshall Gray and Jeff Lewis & wife. Unfortunately there was a very sad event during the mapping of the route. Post 50 ALR member Karen Elizabeth Morgan was involved in an accident resulting in her death. She was remembered at the Poker Run and donations were made to her family.Post 93 in Buchanan will be having the official installation of Officers July 27. We plan to be in attendance and welcome them into the Western Region of VA ALR.The 3rd Annual Dept. of Virginia American Legion Riders Rally will be held in Triangle VA hosted by America Legion Post 28. The Rally officially starts @ 1700 September 20, 2013 and concludes September 22 @ 0800. Post 16 ALR donated $700 to the Post for Boy’s State Sponsorship. The Annual American Legion Legacy Run will be conducted August 17 thru August 22. This year we have 2 members making the ride, Stedman Gray and Jimmy Carson. They will be riding thru Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas ending in Houston for a distance of 1,536 miles. As you may recall this is the National Ride which raises money for the education of children whose parents have made the Supreme Sacrifice in defense of our great country. On the Binnacle List for the Riders our own Nick Mays is home recuperating from injuries suffered in an accident involving his Bike and a Car. I just talked with him and he seems to be mending well. Our next 2 monthly meetings will be 8/21 and 9/18 @ 1900. As always our door is open to any Post Members wishing to join our group.

Thank You, Sonny Rogers - Assistant Director ALR VA Post 16.

Pictures taken on June 23, 2013at the Vietnam Veterans

Chapter 196 Annual Poker Run

Harry F. Wood, Jr.

American Legion Riders

I interviewed Mr. Wood on July 10, 2013 and wanted to run this article so he could see it in here before he got too sick. He was nice to talk to and his memory was really good, considering he had terminal cancer. Unfortunately, he passed away one week later on July 17, 2013. He leaves behind 6 children, 11 grand-children, 8 great-grandchildren and two brothers. Post 16 Honor Guard per-formed at his funeral on July 20, 2013.

At 21 years old, Harry F. Wood, Jr. was drafted into the military in February 1952. With the Korean War raging, Harry had a choice to make. He could do like the other men and continue into the Army, or he could volunteer for the Marine Corps. He chose the latter, because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and his cousin, who had served with the Marine Corps in WWII. Harry said Parris Island was a rude awakening for him. Although he was used to hard work, the psychological part of boot camp was new to him. After graduating boot camp he went through combat training at Camp Pendleton. Once his training was complete, he and many other Marines boarded a ship headed to Inchon, Korea. “We went through a couple bad storms on that ship. The bow of the ship would disappear into the next wave”, Harry explained. Inchon was relatively calm since it was occupied by the military. Harry said, “In Inchon they loaded us onto boxcars for the trip to where the action was. It was kind of scary when we noticed bullet holes all in the boxcar walls. We didn’t know what to think”. He said they carried their M1 Garand rifles and each Marine was only given one 8-round clip. Harry said this didn’t help calm their fears too much. When they arrived at the tent camp near the frontlines, he said the company he was joining had been nearly wiped out. They joined Charlie Company, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division; also known as “Suicide Charlie”. “We were the replacements and the surviving Marines didn’t really accept us at first”, Harry explained. Charlie Company was part of the Battle of the Hook, where he was wounded in late 1952. He was lucky to be alive. A 76mm rocket hit the trench he was in, killing a Marine next to him and knocking Harry down. As soon as he got on his feet he was hit again. Out of the 40+ Marines in his platoon only 8 survived the battle, Harry said. With shrapnel in both legs and his shoulder, he was medevac’d to a MASH unit. From there he was transported to the hospital ship USS Repose and after a week or so he was sent to the Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. While recovering he was awarded the Purple Heart in December 1952. Harry said he’s never gotten over the fact that the over 8,000 missing military in Korea had been forgotten. He also didn’t like President Truman calling it a “Police Action” instead of what it was, a war.

Respectfully Submitted - Bobby Ricketts, editor

Top: Parris Island, SC Feb. 1952Left: During interview on July 10, 2013Right: Awarded the Purple Heart at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. Dec. 22, 1952