Change of Address:   Gerald O'Connor            LTC Sheldon Kirsner
6125 Woodford Drive        4504 Delmont Lane
Lake View, NY 14085-9457   Bethesda, Md. 20814-4012

Arthur Smith Robert E. Crowe
2625 S. Atlantic Ave., Apt 202 1414 Pine Road
Daytona Beach, Fl. 32110-5630 Corinth, MS. 38839

Several members have emailed me and want their Emails available for
other members. As of now the list is:

Name                       EMail Address               Era
========================   ========================== ==============
Jan Milles                 janmilles@hotmail.com       'Nam and Berlin
Charles Farrell            cturkfarrell@aol.com        Berlin '68-69
William Zirkel             ziirkel@earthlink.net       Berlin '57-59
James Porter               ms8x60s@yahoo.com           Vietnam '68-69
Gary Kirsten               garykirsten@snet.net        Berlin '53-55
John Frye                  JFrye13@tampabay.rr.com     Berlin '70-74
CSM Stanley Thornburgh     Stanley39us@yahoo.com       Berlin
Charles McDonald           cmcd5052@sbcglobal.net      Berlin '67-69
CSM Mike Foreman           mandbforeman@aol.com
Thomas Lynn                lynn9493@bellsouth.net
Don Wilson                 donniew32@verizon.net       Berlin '53-55
James Sim                  Simj@Comcast.net            Berlin '62-63
Lawrence Simonson          vikingls36@yahoo.com        Berlin '57-60
Lt. Col. Todd Mercer       todd-mercer@us.army.mil     Germany 87-89
Peter Carroll              gmwh@epix.net
Dr. Virgil Likness         vlikness@yahoo.com          Berlin '55-56
Danny Brosnan              dbrosnan@cox.net            Berlin '51-53 & '60-62
LTC Lynn D. Baker          whiteriverwoodturning@yahoo.com 1/6 Vietnam

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and good health in the new year.

Time is approaching to send in your dues. Times are hard for everyone. If you are unable to send in your dues, don't worry about it. Times are tough for everyone. I'd prefer that you put food on the table than worry about your dues.

I am going to need a new registered agent for our association. The person need only be a resident of Missouri. All that is involved is to receive paperwork from the state of Missouri and to forward it to me. If you can help me, please get in touch with me. Thank you. Paul Quello has been doing the job for several years and is now 82. Thanks for your time and help, Paul.

Hopefully the disgrace at Arlington Cemetary will be corrected. Somehow I suspect many veterans will have been buried in unmarked graves.

I received a letter back from a woman in Michigan for whom I did systems consulting work 20 years ago. She started her letter with, I can see not much has changed, you're still living in fantasy land thinking you're young, hot and attractive to the 30 something crowd!" I thought you'd find it funny.

HR 5933, sponsored by Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, represents an agreement between major veterans' service organizations and the Veterans Affairs Department on ways to fix, improve or otherwise modify the benefits program that was launched August 1, 2009. If the above bill applies to you, contact the congressman at Washington D. C. 20515.

The changes would not take effect until 2011, a delay included at the request of the VA, who want to iron out all of the bugs of the initial program launched last year.

Lt. General Stanley McChrystal retired from the Army and landed right on his feet. He is teaching a graduate class in leadership at Yale. I can think of a few Ivy League educated presidents who should have attended that class.

H. R. 2546, approved by the House, and S. 3477, in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee, would guarantee families the right to display the blue star flag that honors those in service to our country. Now if they can only pass a bill to protect the Stars and Stripes.

The President has bestowed the Medal of Honor on two vets posthumously and is to bestow another on Medal upon a surviving vet shortly. I'll get those three citations and have them in the next newsletter. I'll also have the citation of Vernon Baker.

Taxpayers take heart. $1.4 million of your tax dollars will be used to examine homosexual male prostitutes in Vietnam.

The House passed HR 3219, The Veterans Benefit Act of 2010, and it was signed into law by the president. Some of the items covered are:
-Protects soldiers who are deployed or moved from having to pay an early
termination fee, such as cell phones and on residential leases.
-Reauthorizes an expired VA work-study program for veterans.
-Allows 100% disabled veterans to receive free SGLI insurance coverage for two years.
-Allows parents whose child died on active duty to also be buried in a national cemetery if the deceased veteran was not survived by a spouse or children.
-Instructs the Institute of Medicine to carry out a review of best treatment practices for chronic multi-symptom Gulf War Veterans.

Time is running out to apply for retroactive bonus pay for 145,000 military military personnel who were forced to remain on active duty beyond their original discharge date following the September 11th attacks. Congress has approved back pay of $500 for each month of involuntary service; the average lump-sum payment is between $3,500 and $3,800. Application must be submitted by December 3, 2010. The Defense Department is trying to track down 90,000 eligible veterans. So far the government has processed about 55,000 applications and approved $210 million in back pay, leaving $324 million left unclaimed. Eligible veterans can submit their application online at www.defense.gov/stoploss.

Over 600,000 veterans are enrolled in the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which began in August, 2009. The VA has paid out over $5.76 billion to veterans and schools. 98% of the payments have been processed to date. I got out of the Army in June, 1969 and didn't take advantage of the GI Bill till a fellow worker named Calvin Grimsley convinced me to go to Fordham with him in 1972. I received my BA degree in 1976 with an index of 3.76. In
about 18 months I plan to start working on an MA in military history. I am 64 now. I won't use that degree for anything aside from keeping my mind active. I always wanted to go back for a second degree in history.
My BA is in economics and I made a living as a programming consultant. Over the years, I wished I had taken the advice of a professor and got an MA and PHD in economics at Columbia. Now I can sort of make up for it. At Fordham, I once did a paper on the looming economics crisis. I had the numbers to prove there would be a worldwide economic crisis in 2015. I was off a few years. If you are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, go for it. You won't be sorry.

Florida veterans needing help finding a job can turn to http:veterans.
employflorida.com/portals/veterans/ The governor started the program. I still didn't vote for him for the Senate.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending
your stimulus check wisely: If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China.
If you spend it on gas, your money will go to the Arabs.
If you purchase a computer, it will go to India.
If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.
If you buy a car, it will go to Japan or Korea.
If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.
If you pay off your credit cards, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.
Instead, keep the money in America by: Spending it at a yard sale, or going to ball games, or spending it on prostitutes, or beer or tattoos.
These are the only American businesses still operating in the US. Logical
Conclusion: Go to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day.

Eileen and her husband Bob went for counseling after 25 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, Eileen went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 25 years they had been married. She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage. Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and after asking Eileen to stand, embraced her, unbuttoned her blouse and bra, put his hands on her breasts and massaged them thoroughly, while kissing her passionately as her husband Bob watched with a raised eyebrow! Eileen shut up, buttoned up her blouse, and quietly sat down while basking in the glow of being highly aroused. The therapist turned to Bob and said, "This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this? Bob thought for a moment and replied, "Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I play golf.

The value of a Catholic education and a #2 pencil:
Little Mary Margaret was not the best student in Catholic School. Usually she slept through the class. One day her teacher, a Nun, called on her while she was sleeping. "Tell me Mary Margaret, who created the universe?" When Mary Margaret didn't stir, little Johnny sitting behind her, took his pencil and jabbed her in the rear. "God Almighty!" shouted Mary Margaret. The Nun said, "Very good." and continued teaching her class. A little later the Nun asked Mary Margaret, "Who is our Lord and Saviour?" But Mary didn't stir from her slumber. Once again, Johnny came to her rescue and stuck Mary Margaret in the butt. "Jesus Christ!!!" shouted Mary Margaret and once again the Nun said, "Very good," and Mary Margaret fell back asleep. The Nun asked her a third question. . ."What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?" Again, Johnny came to the rescue. This time Mary Margaret jumped up and shouted, "If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I'll break it in half!" The nun fainted.

Rank and organization: Commander, U. S. Navy, Born: 6 March 1894, Washington D. C. Appointed from: Wisconsin, Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Citation: For distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism and utter disregard of his own safety, above and beyond the call of duty, as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Vestal, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by enemy Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. Comdr. Young proceeded to the bridge and later took personal command of the 3-inch antiaircraft gun. When blown overboard by the blast of the forward magazine explosion of the U. S. S. Arizona, to which the U. S. S. Vestal was moored, he swam back to his ship. The entire forward part of the U. S. S. Arizona was a blazing inferno with oil afire on the water between the 2 ships, as a result of several bomb hits, the U. S. S. Vestal was a fire in several places, was settling and was taking on a list. Despite severe enemy bombing and strafing at the time, and his shocking experience of having been blown overboard, Comdr. Young, with extreme coolness and calmness, moved his ship to an anchorage distant from the U. S. S. Arizona, and subsequently beached the U. S. S. Vestal upon determining that such action was required to save his ship.

Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Spc 4), U. S. Army, Company B, 1st
Battalion (Airborne), 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 21 May 1966. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Born: 14 May 1946, Norristown, Pa. G. O. No.: 45, 20 October 1967. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, when his platoon, while advancing tactically, suddenly came under intense fire from the enemy located on a ridge immediately to the front. Six members of the platoon were killed instantly and a number were wounded, including the platoon leader. Sgt. Dolby's every move brought fire from the enemy. However, aware that the platoon leader was critically wounded, and the platoon was in a precarious situation, Sgt. Dolby moved the wounded men to safety and deployed the remainder of the platoon to engage the enemy. Subsequently, his dying platoon leader ordered Sgt. Dolby to withdraw the forward elements to rejoin the platoon. Despite the continuing intense enemy fire and with utter disregard for his own safety, Sgt. Dolby positioned able-bodied men to cover the withdrawal of the forward elements, assisted the wounded to the new position, and he, alone, attacked enemy positions until until his ammunition was expended. Replenishing his ammunition, he returned to the area of most intense action, singlehandedly killed 3 enemy machine gunners
and neutralized the enemy fire, thus enabling friendly elements on the flank to advance on the enemy redoubt. He defied the enemy fire to personally carry a seriously wounded soldier to safety where he could be teated and, returning to the forward area, he crawled through withering fire to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers and threw smokegrenades to mark them for air strikes. Although repeatedly under fire at close range from enemy snipers and automatic weapons, Sgt. Dolby directed artillery fire on the enemy and succeeded in silencing several enemy weapons. He remained in his exposed location until his comrades had displaced to more secure positions. His actions of unsurpassed valor during 4 hours of intense combat were a source of inspiration to his entire company, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. Sgt. Dolby's heroism was in the highest tradition of the U. S. Army.

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army, 2nd Battalion, 506th
Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Fire Support Base Ripcord, Republic of Vietnam, 1 to 23 July 1970. Entered service at: West Point, N. Y. Born: 2 October 1930, Washington D. C. Citation: Lt. Col Lucas distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion. Although the fire base was constantly subjected to heavy attacks by a numerically superior enemy force throughout this period, Lt. Col. Lucas, forsaking his own safety, performed numerous acts of extraordinary valor in directing the defense of the allied position. On 1 occasion, he flew in a helicopter at treetop level above an entrenched enemy directing the fire of 1 of his companies for over 3 hours. Even though his helicopter was heavily damaged by enemy fire, he remained in an exposed position until the company expended its supply of grenades. He then transferred to another helicopter, dropped critically needed grenades to the troops, and resumed his perilous mission of directing fire on the enemy. These courageous actions by Lt. Col. Lucas prevented the company from being encircled and destroyed by a larger enemy force. On another occasion, Lt. Col. Lucas attempted to rescue a crewman trapped in a burning helicopter. As the flames in the aircraft spread, and enemy fire became intense, Lt. Col. Lucas ordered all members of the rescue party to safety. Then, at great personal risk, he continued the rescue effort amid concentrated enemy mortar fire, intense heat, and exploding ammunition until the aircraft was completely engulfed in flames. Lt. Col. Lucas was mortally wounded while directing the successful withdrawal of his battalion from the fire base. His actions throughout this extended period inspired his men to heroic efforts and were instrumental in saving the lives of many of his fellow soldiers while inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Lt. Col. Lucas' conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit and the u. S. Army.

Obituaries:

Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr, 75, was killed in a bike-SUV accident in Tampa on July 29. He was director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and the son of former Governor LeRoy Collins.

Reginald Alexander, 83, of Eureka, California died January 10. He jumped with the 101st Airborne on D Day and broke both his legs on the jump and was taken prisoner. He was recipient of the French Legion of Honor.

Dwight Radcliff, 55, an Air Force veteran who overcame homelessness to lead a national organization providing services for former troops facing similar obstacles, died of a heart attack July 31 in Los Angeles. As president and chief executive of United States Veterans Initiative , he helped provide job training and placement, counseling and housing to thousands of veterans and their families.

David C. Dolby, 64, recipient of the Medal of Honor in 1967 for saving his Army platoon in Vietnam, died in his sleep August 6 in Spirit Lake, Idaho, while attending a gathering of veterans. He lived in Royersford, Pa. He
was credited with saving the lives of fellow soldiers on May 21, 1966, after they walked into an ambush. His other decorations included the Silver Star, three awards of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Bill Millin, 88, a Scottish bagpiper who played highland tunes as his fellow
commandos landed on a Normandy beach on D Day, died of complications from a stroke on August 18 in a hospital in Dawlish, Devon, England. His exploits on D Day were in the movie The Longest Day.

Martin Ernest Dannenberg, 94, who as a World War II Armt sergeant in 1945
discovered a copy of the anti-Semitic Nuremberg Laws, died August 18 in Baltimore.

Marcel Albert, 92, who became one of the leading French fighter pilots of World War II, flying Soviet-built planes in duels with German aircraft on the Eastern Front, died of cancer on August 23 in Harlingen, Texas. Flying Yakovlev fighter planes, known as Yaks, in combat alongside Soviet pilots, he took part in shooting down 24 German planes, according to France's Order of the Liberation, founded by General Charles de Gaulle during the war.

Wing Commander John Freeborn, 90, an RAF fighter pilot, died August 28 in England. Of the nearly 3,000 Allied fliers in World War II none logged more combat hours than Freeborn. He was credited with shooting down 12 German planes. He was twice decorated with Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross.

Colonel John C. Gambrell, 88, died at home in Florida on September 7. He jumped with the 82nd Airborne on D Day in St. Mere Eglise. He was awarded the Silver and Bronze Stars. He later fought in the Battle of the Bulge in which he received the Purple Heart.

Vernon Baker, the last black recipient of the Medal of Honor from World War II, died July 13 in Idaho of brain cancer. In 1997 the Defense Department upgraded the medals of seven black veterans from WWII to the Medal of Honor. Baker was the last of the seven. He was awarded the Medal for action in April, 1945 near Viareggio, Italy. He was buried September 23 at Arlington.

Colonel Thomas Jones, 95, died September 21 in Safety Harbor, Florida. During World War II he was in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded. He and 20 others moved into the mountains and remained there for 20 months till captured in August, 1943. When released in 1945 his weight was down to 80 pounds. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Legion of Merit.

Gary E. Lee, 67, a State Department officer in Tehran who in 1979 was taken hostage by Iranian militants and braved mock executions, beatings and near starvation during 444 days in captivity, died October 10 in Fulton, Texas. He was one of 52 Americans held inside the U. S. Embassy until they were released January 20, 1981, Ronald Reagan's Inauguration Day. Gee, what a coincidence. Another hostage, Richard Morefield, who was U. S. Consul General at the time, died October 11.

Robert Herbert Bourne, 88, died October 13 in Palm Harbor, Florida. On the night of July 18, 1943 he was a member of a crew of a blimp that sighted a German u-boat. In the ensuing battle, the blimp was damaged and fell into the water. Mr. Bourne and 9 other crewmen were rescued 20 hours later. One crewman, Isadore Stessel, was killed by a shark. The u-boat was also damaged and unable to dive. It was sank two days later.

Please remember them in your prayers.

SIXTH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION AND AUXILIARY NEWSLETTER

November 1, 2010

Obituaries: