SIXTH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION AND AUXILIARY NEWSLETTER

PO Box 55446

St. Petersburg,Fl. 33732-5446

August 1, 2008

Re-Enlistments:  Robert Gilman

Donations:       Robert Gilman, Milton Murry

New Members:     Dennis Haney

                  Dunnellon, Fl. 34431

Change of Address:  Christine Maul   Eden Valley,Mn. 55329

                    LTC Wayne Silkett    Boiling Springs, Pa. 17007

Deceased:        None

Introduction:

We are entering the 21^st century.  The newsletter is now available Online at www.sixthinfantry.com.  Some of you have wanted to receive the newsletter by Email.  I would ask that you get it at our web site.  The newsletter will be archived at the website.  The newsletter on the web site is available for those of you who like it that way and it is also available forour brothers in the 1^st and 2^nd Battalions of the 6^thInfantry in Iraq.  Hopefully we can get some of them as members as they are the future of the 6^th Infantry Assn.  If you would prefer to see the newsletter online, please let me know and I won’t send it out in the mail.

In addition to the above, several members have Emailed meand want their Emails available for other members.  As of now the list is:

Name                      EMail Address               Era

========================  ========================== ==============

Jan Milles                jmilles@hvc.rr.com          ‘ Nam and Berlin

Charles Farrell           cturkfarrell@aol.com        Berlin‘68-69

Bill Harless              BHarl95429@aol.com          Berlin‘52-54

William Ziirkel           ziirkel@earthlink.net          Berlin‘57-59

James Porter              mx8x60s@yahoo.com     Vietnam‘68-69  

Gary Kirsten              garykirsten@snet.net        Berlin‘53-55

John Frye                 JFrye13@tampabay.rr.com

Command Sergeant Major Stanley Thornburgh sent me a disk of pictures of Berlin.  I printed off a set for myself.  I am going to print another set for the association.  If anyone would like to seethe pictures or would like to borrow the disk with which to make their own pictures,please contact me at my address on the top of the first page.  I’ll ship either or both of them for $4.  That covers the cost of a padded envelope and postage.  I suspect there might be awaiting list, so please be patient.  Be sure to tell me if you want pictures or the disk or both.  When you are done with them, please return them to me.  Thank you.  He mentioned one thing that is contrary to what I was told by a friend in Berlin and reported to you.  McNair appears to still exist and is being converted into apartments.

I had an EMail from LTC Eifler of 1/6.  He said 1/6 is taking it to the enemy.  Please remember them in your prayers.

The VA, with their 2009 budget, have set a goal ofreducing their claims backlog by a fourth. From what I have seen of late, there may be some truth to that.  I had two claims for which I received adenial in less than two years.  In one Ireceived a response in three months.  Inthe other, it took 21 months.

As part of the 2009 budget, the VA will adopt a policy ofenrollment fees for certain categories of non-service-connected vets.  This is crazy and will hurt the vets who needthis care most.  They are looking tocharge $250 to $750 for an annual enrollment fee.  The checks for the enrollment is to be madepayable to the Treasury and not the VA. The co-payment for prescription drugs is going from $8 to $15.

A few years ago we sold virtually our entire inventory ofasso-ciation things.  Recently I foundabout 100 car stickers with the crest of the 6^th Infantry.  I’ll sell them for $2.50 each if anyone wouldlike some.  Just write me at POBox 55446, St. Petersburg,Fl. 33732-5446.  Make your checks payableto the 6^th Infantry Assn.

The VA has dedicated a new Veterans Cemetary in LakeWorth, Florida and another in Sarasota, Florida on June 1.

The Senate has passed a bill (S. 1315) that will give promised pensions to Filipino WWII veterans. The number of Filipino vets is down to an estimated 15,000.  They will receive $4,500 annually.

The Defense Department is considering awarding a PurpleHeart for PTSD.

Veterans with service-connected disabilities would get expanded dental coverage under bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep.  Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) and Rep. Chris Carney(D-Pa).  Currently, only 100 percent disabled, homeless and POW Veterans get dental care.  According to the VA, 258,000 veterans are eligible for dental benefits.  If House Resolution 5595 passes, more than 2.5 million additional disabled Veterans would receive coverage.

The GI Bill for the 21^st Century

Basic Benefits: Initial average of $1,450 a month; actual payments will cover fulltuition and fees up to the cost of the highest in-state tuition for a four-yearpublic college or university in each state. Amount will increase each year based on increases in tuition costs.

Housing Stipend:  Amonthly payment equal to the local Basic Allow-ance for an E-5 with dependents,for those with three or more years on active duty.  The current allowance averages more than$1,100 a month.

Books and Equipment: Up to $1,000 a year for full-time students.

Tutoring:  Up to$100 a month, with a maximum total payment of $1,200.

Licensing or Certification Test:  One time payment of up to $2,000.

Reserve Benefits: Would increase by 20%.  Thecurrent full-time monthly reserve rate of $317 would rise to $380.

More Time: Active-duty members have 15 years after separation to use benefits, up from the current 10 years.

Transfer Benefits: Service members with six years of service who promise to serve four more years can transfer full benefits to their spouse.  Members who serve 10 years can transfer benefits to their children.

No Enrollment Fee: $1,200 member contribution eliminated. the current fee ends immediately. This includes an end to any remaining $100 monthly installments for people who are in the process of paying the enrollment fee.  People who have paid the entire $1.200 contribution but have not used all their GI Bill will receive a refund of sorts,with $1,200 added as a final payment when they exhaust their standard 36 monthsof benefits.

Note:  When I attended Fordham University between 1972 and 1976, the government checks arrived promptly at the first of the month.  About ten years ago I had a neighbor who served in the first Gulf War. His checks did not arrive in a timely manner.  I would check into this when signing up for the program.

The above info was taken from the June 30^thissue of the Army Times.  I am expecting more info in the mail from my congressman and one of Florida’s senators.  If there is anything else in there, I’ll have it in the November newsletter.

Ann and Agnes are outside their nursing home, having a smoke, when it starts to rain.  Ann pulls out a condom, cuts off the end, puts it over her cigarette and continues smoking.  Agnes asks; What did you just do?  Ann says: This way my cigarette doesn’t get wet.  Agnes asks: Where are you getting them? Ann: Down at the drug store. The next day, Agnes hobbles herself into the local drug store and announces to the pharmacist that she wants a box of condoms.  The pharmacist, obviously looks at her kind of strangely (she is, after all, over 80 years of age), but very delicately asks what brand of condom she prefers.  “Doesn’t matter Sonny, as long as it fits over a Camel.” The pharmacist fainted.

Sister Mary Ann, who worked for a home health agency, was out making her rounds visiting home bound patients when she ran out of gas.  As luck would have it, a gas station was just a block away.  She walked to the station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas. The attendant told her that the only gas can he owned had been loaned out, but she could wait until it was returned. Since Sister Mary Ann was on the way to see a patient, she decided not to wait and walked back to her car.  She looked for something in her car that she could fill with gas and spotted the bedpan she was taking to the patient. Always resourceful, Sister Mary Ann carried the bedpan to the station,filled it with gasoline and carried the full bedpan back to her car.  As she was pouring the gas into her tank, two Baptists watched from across the street. One of them turned to the other and said, “If it starts, I’m turning Catholic.”

Morris, an 82 year old man, went to his doctor to get aphysical.  A few days later the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm.  The doctor stopped and spoke to Morris: You’re really doing great, aren’t you?  ‘Just doing what you said, Doc.’  ‘Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.’ To which the doctor said, ‘I didn’t say that, Morris.  I said, You’ve got a heart murmur, be careful!’

How the Irish view this year’s Presidential election. . .  We in Ireland can’t figure out why you people are even bothering to hold a Presidential election in the USA.  On one side, you have: a bitch who is a Lawyer, married to a Lawyer, running against a Lawyer, who is married to a bitch who is a Lawyer.  On the other side, you have a War Hero married to a good looking woman who owns a beer distributorship.  What are you lads thinking over there?

MA2 Michael A. Monsoor, USN  Medal ofHonor recipient

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. As automatic weapons gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 29 September 2006.  As a member of a combined Seal and Iraqi Army sniper over watch element, tasked with providing early warning and stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq,Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery in the face of grave danger.  In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element’s position.  Element snipers thwarted the enemy’s initial attempt by elimination two insurgents.  The enemy continued to assault the element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire.  As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof.  While the Seals vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen position, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor’s chest and landed in front of him.  Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates.  Instantly and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself on the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two teammates.  By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit,and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

PFC Ross McGinnis, U. S. Army, Medal of Honor recipient

For conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, 1^st Platoon, CCompany, 1^st Battalion, 26^th Infantry Regiment, inconnection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Bagdad, Iraq,on 4 December 2006.

That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area.  While Private McGinnis was manning the M2.50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner’s hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, hr yelled “grenade,” allowing all four mrmbers of hiscrew to prepare for the grenade’s blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner’s hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew.  In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

Private McGinnis’ gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis’ heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Jacklyn Lucas, U. S.Marine Corps, Medal of Honor recipient

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 1^stBattalion , 26^th Marines, 5^th Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 20 February,1945.  While creeping through a trecherous, twisting ravine which ran in close proximity to a fluid and uncertain frontline on D-plus-1 day.  Pfc.Lucas and 3 other men were suddenly ambushed by a hostile patrol which savagely attacked with rifle fire and grenades. Quick to act when the lives of the small group were endangered by 2 grenades which landed directly in front of them,  Pfc. Lucas unhesitatingly hurled himself over his comrades upon one grenade and pulled the other under him, absorbing thewhole blasting forces of the explosives in his own body in order to shield his companions from the concussion and murderous flying fragments.  By his inspiring action and valiant spirit ofself-sacrifice, he not only protected his comrades from certain injury or possible death but also enabled them to rout the Japanese patrol and continue the advance.  His exceptionallycourageous initiative and loyalty reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Lucasand the U. S. Navy service.

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