Jan Feb '09 Saber.indd - First Cavalry Division Association

JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2009ADDRESSCHANGEDon’t Keep it a SECRET, Let us Know About It.To submit by e-mail, send to membership@1cda.org.Clip and Mail to 1st Cavalry Division Association302 N. Main, Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703Last 4 #s of your SSN_____________ DOB_____________________Tel: (_____) __________________Rank and Name: ___________________________________________New Address: ______________________________________________City: ___________________________State: ____ Zip: ___________Unit: (1)_______________________ and (2)_____________________Date of Assign: (1)_________________ and (2)__________________E-mail ____________________________________________________I served with the 1st Cav Div. in (Circle one or more) Pre-WWII WWIIJAPAN KOREAN WAR KOREA ‘57-’65 FT BENNINGVIETNAM FT HOOD GULF BOSNIA AFGANISTAN IRAQI DO/DO NOT authorize release of my personal info to Assn. members.I served with another military unit during a war time period? YES NOSABERThe newspaper of the 1st Cavalry Division Associationpublished during each even numbered month at302 N. Main St., Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703.Phone: (254) 547-6537Deadline for publication is the 1st of each odd numbered month.e-mail: firstcav@1cda.orgHome Page: http://www.1cda.orgEDITOR: Lorinda DavisonASSISTANT EDITOR: Martha E. FisherEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Dennis E. WebsterSNOWBIRDSIf you have two addresses during the year, we need to know them. Please give usthe dates and addresses for both households.(Circle one) Winter SummerRank and Name: __________________________________________________LAST 4#s SSN:_______________________ DOB _______________________1: Address: _____________________________________________________City: ___________________________State: _____ Zip: __________________Dates: __________________________Tel: (_______) _____________________2: Address: _______________________________________________________City: ___________________________ State: _____ Zip: ________________Dates: __________________________Tel: (_______) _____________________Feb. 27-28June 3-7Nov. 11Calendar2009Board of Governors and Trustee Meetings, Fort Hood, Texas62nd Annual Reunion, Fort Hood, TexasVeterans Day in Washington, DC.OTHER REUNIONSPigiron 7 (B Co., 1-8th CAV, 1969-70), 20-22 Mar., 2009. La Quinta Inn,Fort Lauderdale, FL. Contact Dan HOUMES, (954) 489-0684, for additional details.C Co., 2-7th Cavalry, 14-17 May, 2009. Arkadelphia, AR. Contact JimBROWN, (870) 246-7292.30th Field Artillery Regiment Association - All Eras (Hard Chargers),17-21 June, 2009, Holiday Inn Express, Nashville, TN. Visit the Association’sweb site at or contact John HOETKER at (518) 377-9420, .1-8th Cavalry - Vietnam (Jumping Mustangs), 29 July-2 Aug., 2009. MinotInternational Inn, Minot, ND. Contact James KNAFEL, 5510 E. 500th South,Columbia City, IN 46725, (260) 244-3864, .1st Cavalry Division, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Infantry Division andService Company, Camp Crawford, Hokkaido, Japan 1953-55, 11-13 Sep.,2009. Drury Inn, Merriam KS. Contact Allan W. SANDERSON, 1301 3rd St.NE, Oelwein, IA 50662, (319) 283-4043, .WANTEDIF YOU SERVED WITH, KNOW, KNEW OR HAVE INFORMATIONABOUT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITHTHE CONTACT LISTED.FREEMAN, PFC Donald R., E Co., 2-8th CAV, MIA on 2 Nov., 1950 andpresumed dead on 11 Feb., 1953. Contact his friend Jim BROWN (Svc Btry.,61st FA 1949-50), 6534 Bakers View Dr., Vale, NC 28168, (740) 462-1628,.President’s CornerContinued from pg. 1.some from seeking preventive care or proper management of chronic conditionswhich would negatively affect some patient’s health. Amen to that.Tighten VA enrollment—The VA healthcare system would be directed todisenroll 2.3 million Priority Groups 7 and 8—individuals who are not poor andhave no service related medical needs—estimated to save $53 billion over 10years with Medicare costs rising by $26 billion in the same period as these vetsshifted to Medicare.Congress has declined to pay similar legislation in the past. I hope they will dothe same this year, but we have a new Administration and Congress facing a hugebudget deficit. I hope they do not try to adjust that on the backs of our militaryand veterans who have already contributed so much to our country.As an organization, our Association can do nothing about this attack on our wellearned benefits. But as individuals you can. No one can limit your right to write,e-mail or contact your congressman/woman and express your opinion. I hopeyou seize this issue to flood their offices with your opinion. Let’s be heard.While each issue of Saber announces the deaths of our comrades, this issue announcesthe death of two of my predecessors, LTG (Ret) Harry W.O. Kinnard andNorman R. Osterby. They will be missed by us all. God bless the 1st CavalryDivision, God bless the American Soldier and God bless America.ARTICLE SUBMISSIONPage 2Manuscripts should be originals or clear copies, either typed or printed doublespacedin near-letter quality printer mode. Word processor submissions areaccepted via e-mail or a mailed CD in Miscrosoft WORD or Word for Windows,Please include a printout. Attach a self-adhesive label with photo information tothe back of photos or cutlines for each photo (and where you would like themplaced). Include name and address if the photo is to be returned. Please do notsend panoramic photos wider than 8.5 in.Articles should be received at National Headquarters no later than the 1stof every odd month. Any article received after the 1st will be put in ona space available basis.Opinions expressed are the writers and not necessarily those of the Saber orthe 1st Cavalry Division Association.LETTERS TO THE EDITORTo be considered for publication, letters should net exceed 300 words andshould be of general interest and in good taste. Letters express the writer’sopionion, not that of the Saber or the 1st Cavalry Division Association.Political endorsement, “thank you” notes and poetry cannot be used. Formletters or third-party letters are not acceptable. Letters which contain libelousor obviously untrue statements will be automatically rejected.All letters must be signed with addresses and telephone numbers included.Names will be used with the letters but addresses and phone numbers maybe omitted. Letters also may be edited for length or clarification.We reserve the right to reject for publication any letter received. Unusedletters will not be acknowledged.Dear Editor,As each person journeys from childhood to adulthood,he must discover and develop his own strength, values, anddreams. Many of his formative years are shaped by the typesof people with which he surrounds himself. He can find theseindividuals in his classroom, church, teams, or any numberof other environments. Yet the most influential people in ayoung person’s life are most often found in his own family.Grandparents in particular can have a profound impact upontheir grandchild’s life; they are initially perceived as the funmiddle-aged people who enjoy spoiling their grandchildren,but eventually are seen more accurately as generous and venerable individualswith much wisdom and love to offer.While I have shared countless experiences with my father’s step-father thatI would not trade for the world, I have always tried to imagine what my realgrandfather was like. Felix DeLoach KING was killed early in his involvementin the Vietnam War when my father was quite young, so I know very little abouthis interests and goals, or even what his laugh sounded like. However, I havebeen left with one clue that gives me a glimpse into his life and that is his role asnot only a husband and a father, but also as a Ranger in the Vietnam War. Thisscholarship allows me to connect with the grandfather I never knew in a uniqueway while enabling me to pursue my education and dreams of becoming an oralsurgeon. For that, I am truly thankful.Sincerely, Kathryn L. KINGDear Editor,I am entirely grateful to be the recipient of the scholarshipgrant awarded by the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry DivisionAssociation. My dad is so proud of his service with the1st Cavalry Division, and being awarded this scholarshipmeans a great deal to me. I am more than thankful to beable to attend Suffolk University and your generosity willlessen the burden placed on my parents because of the highcost of tuition and room and board.I will continue to strive to achieve the goals that I haveset for myself. The next four years will be challenging, butI am determined to work hard to accomplish my dreams.Again, I am so appreciative for your help in the continuation of my education.Your sheer kindness does not go unnoticed.Sincerely, Jamie M. PESTANADear Editor,This grant makes me appreciate what my grandfather andhis Division did for our country, giving us the freedom tochoose what we want to do with our lives. This grant helpsme continue my education allowing me to have a secure andfinancially stable career in the future. It makes me proud tobe a descendant of a veteran that gave so much to allow usto have our own rights and choices as citizens of the UnitedStates. Thank you, Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association, for thischance.Sincerely, Tanner TAYLORDear Editor,I am sure that you have been apprised of the passing ofJoe Christopher. I would like to tell of my contacts withJoe. Joe served in Korea with the 8th Regiment, 2nd Battalion(Scrappy White), Company F. I did not know Joein Korea. I was in the same Regiment and Battalion, butI was in Company G back in 1950-51.I got to know Joe through his 8th Regiment column inthe Saber. As his readers will attest, Joe was an excellentJohn Maywriter. His stories were true, right out of history. AfterJoe gave up his column, I contacted him from time forinformation on experiences we both had. Also, from time to time, he sent oute-mails on items he knew would interest his e-mail buddies. Along the way IContinued on pg. 4.