FRAtoday December 2021
comunicaitons
FROM THE BRIDGE	3
SHIPMATE FORUM	6
On & Off captol hill	7
FEATURE  STORies	
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS19
SHIPMATE NEWS22
TAPS23
AUXILIARY OF THE FRA25
FINANCE MATTERS26

COMMINICATIONS

Welcome to the New BOD
I had the pleasure of attending the recently held FRA National Convention. I had never been to Washington state, but now understand why some people would never leave. 
There were some bumps along the way for these past couple of years. The convention that took place in Alexandria,Virginia, during October of 2020 was the first to use remote connectivity for Shipmates to participate in the installation and banquet.
This year the Zoom connection assisted in several ways, but the most memorable situation was when a few of the members on the incoming board for both the LA FRA and the FRA received their new covers while being remote.
During the 93rd annual FRA National Convention held in Spokane Valley, Washington, the delegates unanimously elected National Vice President James W. Campbell from Chesapeake Branch 40 to the position of national president. Further, PRPSE James “Robbie” Robbins from West Jacksonville Branch 126 was elected national vice president from the floor. The complete roster for the FRA is on page 18 of this issue of FRAtoday.
Following the election, the delegates installed the new officers and board who will serve until the next national convention, which will be held in Birmingham, Alabama. 
I certainly enjoyed getting a chance to see some of our most involved and active Shipmates. The long gap between conventions was something we all had to deal with, and the smaller meeting that was held in October of 2020 was a nice chance to keep business as usual. 
This year, though, the installations and business sessions were conducted and the convention was much more satisfying. 
I was able to enjoy the company of Shipmate Mike Batnick from Mt. Rainer Branch 104 and his pet bird, Rosie. I have seen many pets and there have been some amazing animals. Many of my friends have birds but this colorful little girl was better behaved than most. She was a fine, feathered lady during the business sessions — not a peep from her.        FRA
In Loyalty, Protection and Service,
William D. Stevenson, Editor-in-Chief 

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FROM THE FANTAIL

The True Cost of War 
The government has no idea of the true cost of war. Dr. Andrew Berry, a psychologist from Niskayuna, New York, who holds a Ph.D., Psy.D. and specialist certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology, is here to remind them.
Many fellow veterans and Shipmates have struggled with mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder along with the stigma of asking for help. 
Dr. Berry asserts that there is no difference between asking for help in a clinic and asking for backup from one’s shipmates during military service. A life member of FRA Branch 214, Berry wants to help change this culture of silence and stigma in the military and veteran communities. 
Berry is a licensed clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst whose area of expertise is treating PTSD in veterans and first responders. In addition to his professional identity as a clinical psychologist and a psychoanalyst, he is also a volunteer firefighter, EMT and proud Freemason. 
Berry is open about struggling with depression over many years, and he mentioned this finally began to change during his years in higher education. Those years were not without struggle; he initially had to take Psychology 101 three times before passing. 
After obtaining his associate degree at Schenectady County Community College, Berry attended the State University of New York’s University at Albany for the remainder of his bachelor’s degree, graduating in 1989. 
In 1992 he earned a master’s degree at Harvard Extension School, then went on to get his Ph.D. at Union Institute and University in 1998. After graduation he had trouble finding work, but eventually he got a job at a state-run supermax prison in Kansas as a diagnostician. 
Receiving little satisfaction from that position, Berry decided to return to school to obtain a second master’s degree and his Psy.D. from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in 2007. After finishing he returned to New York City, where he completed analytic training at the William Alanson White Institute in 2012. He then obtained board certification in both clinical and counseling psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology.  
His focus goes beyond mere symptom relief into characterological change brought about by deeper emotional issues. He believes PTSD can be thought of as a shift of personality, and not just a list of symptoms. Berry says that many vets who come home from combat tours tell him that they have no idea who they even are anymore. 
As an interpersonal psychoanalyst, he focuses on how PTSD alters relationships, and he assists his patients in gaining awareness of, and subsequently processing those changes. He has published on this topic, and also lectures around the country at analytic institutes, national conferences and international conferences. He is also part of the American Psychoanalytic Association’s for Service Members and Veterans Initiative and an accredited veteran service officer. 
Berry hopes to serve the Fleet Reserve Association as a mental health advocate and subject matter expert. He, along with all the rest of us, are appalled at seeing veterans commit suicide due to lack of mental health resources. Berry also wants to help veterans connect with mental health professionals. When working with veterans, he assists with VA disability benefits claims by writing advocacy letters.

Veterans in crisis and their loved ones can call, text, or chat to connect with VA responders at the free and confidential Veterans Crisis Line. If you are in crisis and need to speak with a crisis responder, please call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, text 838255, or use the chat at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat.    FRA
Noelle is the assistant director of veterans programs and can be reached at NoelleH@fra.org or 703-683-1400, ext. 125.

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sHIPMATE FORUM

Midway Island 
I was glad to read the articles about Midway Island in August and would like to add another group, AirBARSRON Two Det 3080. I knew the flights could land in Adak and repair when other planes brought parts but do not remember anything about Barrow, AK.  He (my husband) started on the crew in Nov. 1958 AE 2nd class and left Dec. 1960 AE 1st class. Seems to me they lost an engine on the WV coming in, don’t think I have any pictures of the planes.  We lived on Midway Island and loved the beautiful beaches but we also ate the fish that came into that lagoon and had fish poisonings. “When the ship comes in” was very true as milk and juice were rationed, we lived out of the Sears catalog, brackish water rusted our metal utensils and our daughters had difficulty getting a passport as immigration did not know of Midway Island with a birth certificate from Hawaii. This brought back wonderful memories.
Jenese Truelsen,
 widow of AEC Marlan Truelsen USN (Ret.)

Planning a Funeral
The article, “Planning a Veterans’s Funeral” in the August FRAtoday magazine was thoughtful and touching. Have you thought about asking your members, if they would like to share their experience about how they have arranged and carried out the funeral of their loved one?  You could publish in FRAtoday (Feature) now and then the more unusual funeral arrangements, and yes, I would submit the funeral arrangement I made for my beloved husband George.
Sincerely,
Brigitte Caldwell 

Making of a Navy Chief 
Thank you for the amazing article “The Making of a Navy Chief” in the September 2021 issue of FRAtoday. As a junior officer, I relied heavily on the advice and experience offered by the ship’s Chiefs. 
During CIC school in Georgia, I was with a group that ranged from LCDRs to Chiefs. While in class and activities, rank meant nothing; it was performance that counted. I became friends with a Chief who was assigned to my ship’s sister ship USS POCONO. In 1969 our ships (USS TACONIC and USS POCONO) were tied up in Norfolk. He invited me to join him and his fellow Chiefs in the POCONO’s Chiefs Mess to watch the moon landing. 
The invaluable assistance of the TACONIC’s Chiefs was really important to my success. Although my time in active service was not as long as I would have liked (I really enjoyed the work and challenges) as my first wife suffered from terminal cancer, my relationships with the Chiefs is a treasured memory. 
Thank you too for including the Coast Guard. While living near Cape May, my wife and I (I had married again) met a couple, found we had many common interests, and became good friends. He was a First Class and soon became a Coast Guard Chief. I was able to attend his initiation at the Cape May Coast Guard Base. His dad and I took many pictures. It’s a good thing I was there as his dad forgot to put film in his camera! 
My friend later became a commissioned warrant officer, commanded 2 cutters, and is now retired and living on the West Coast in Oregon. We all still keep in touch. Thanks to Face Time! 
Keep up the good work. Your articles are always a great read. I hope that I am not a pest because I am sure you receive many emails about your articles.
Sincerely, 
Dave Blood 

New FRA Calendar
I got a kick out of your 2022 calendar. The April photo of a submarine disguised as a hospital ship must have been an April Fool’s joke. It couldn’t have been an editorial oversight.
FTCM(SS )C. F. Nye, USN (Ret.)
 
Letters published in Shipmate Forum reflect the opinions and views of individual FRA members. They do not reflect the position of the FRA. The FRA is not responsible for the accuracy of letter content. Submit letters to FRAtoday, 125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314 or to fratoday@fra.org.

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ON AND OFF CAPITOL HILL

2021 Legislative Session Not Over Yet
As you receive this issue of FRAtoday, Congress should be wrapping up first session of the 117th Congress. Hopefully Congress has passed and the President has approved a spending plan to replace the Continuing Resolution (CR) before it expires December 3. In addition as FRAtoday goes to press there is uncertainty about passage of the FY 2018 Defense Authorization bill and whether it will prohibit DoD from making drastic cuts to medical staff serving at Military Treatment Facilities (MTF). All members are strongly urged to use the Action Center and to subscribe to FRA Newsbytes a weekly electronic newsletter providing critical information on legislation impacting pay and benefits. Looking over the horizon to calendar year 2022 the FRA Legislative Team will fight to preserve and enhance benefits and quality-of-life programs for active, Reserve, retired, and veterans of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard plus their families and survivors.

Senate NDAA Pending on Senate Floor
As FRAtoday goes to press the Senate FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2792) is pending on the Senate floor for a final vote and may be soon be considering floor amendments. Several of these amendments are supported by FRA. These amendments include:

•	Sen. Jon Tester (MT) amendment with the provisions of the "Major Richard Star Act" (S. 344) that expands concurrent receipt to include Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) beneficiaries who are medically retired with less than 20 years of service;
•	Sen. Rob Portman (OH) amendment with provisions of the "Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act" (S. 1669) that would authorize the retention of the full final month's retired pay by the surviving spouse for the month in which the member was alive for at least 24 hours; and
•	Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT) amendment to require a joint report from DoD and the VA to designate the next national cemetery that affords full military honors as Arlington National Cemetery reaches capacity and directs DoD to not change ANC eligibility until after the report is submitted.

The House earlier passed its version of the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA-H.R. 4350). Once the Senate passes its version of the NDAA, a conference committee will be appointed to resolve the differences between the two bills. That final bill will be submitted to the House and Senate for a vote. If approved by both chambers, the bill will go to the President to be signed into law or vetoed. Members are strongly urged to use the FRA Action Center to ask their Senators to support these important amendments.

House NDAA Includes PFAS Chemical Provisions
Among the many provisions added to the House passed FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R.4350), are provisions requiring the Department of Defense to clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, contaminated sites on military installations. The cleanup must comply with state standards. Additional PFAS requirements added to the bill include:
•	Requiring the DoD to offer PFAS exposure evaluation and testing for service members who want that as part of their annual examination;
•	Requiring the agency to publish the results of drinking and ground water PFAS tests conducted on or near military installations or former defense sites; and 
•	Requiring the DoD to report by March 1, 2022, progress it’s making identifying firefighting foams that don’t contain PFAS, but can effectively address the high-risk jet fuel and other fires with which military bases deal. 

The FRA is a member of the TEAM (Toxic Exposure in the American Military) coalition that is working to establish a comprehensive framework to address past, present, and future toxic exposures in the military at locations both domestic and abroad.

TRICARE Scheduled 2022 Pharmacy Co-pay Increases
Delayed TRICARE pharmacy co-pay increases opposed by the FRA and mandated by Congress
as part of the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.
The FY2017 NDAA mandates pharmacy and therapy increases every two years until 2027. The
FRA is working to repeal these arbitrary increases. The Defense Health Agency notes that the
military pharmacy (MTF) is still the lowest cost option for military beneficiaries; as always,
there is no cost for covered generic and brand-name drugs at these pharmacies. The changes are
as follows:

Pharmacy Home Delivery (up to 90-day supply)
· Generic formulary drugs co-pays increase from $10 to $12.
· Brand-name formulary drugs increase from $29 to $34.
· Non-formulary drugs increase from $60 to $68.

Retail network pharmacies (up to 30-day supply)
· Generic formulary drugs increase from $13 to $14.
· Brand-name formulary drugs increase from $33 to $38.
· Non-formulary drugs increase from $60 to $68.

Non-network pharmacies (up to 30-day supply)
· Generic formulary drugs and brand-name formulary drugs will increase from $33 to $38, or the
co-pay will be 20 percent of the total cost of the drug, whichever is greater, after meeting the
annual deductible.
· Non-formulary drugs will increase from $60 to $68, or the co-pay will be 20 percent of the total
cost of the drug, whichever is greater, after meeting the annual deductible.
Previous increases in pharmacy co-pays occurred in 2018 and 2020. These changes in co-pays
take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

Changes Coming to TRICARE Pharmacy Network
After three years, Walmart is leaving TRICARE’s pharmacy network -- a departure that
pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts Inc. says is a result of the retail giant's reluctance to
offer "more highly competitive discounts" to military health beneficiaries. At the same time,
CVS Pharmacy will return to the TRICARE network after a five-year pause. Also, effective Dec.
15, 2021, Sam's Club will no longer be a part of the TRICARE pharmacy network, and CVS will
be included among the list of network retail pharmacies where TRICARE users can fill their
prescriptions. There are more than 56,000 pharmacies in the retail TRICARE pharmacy network.
For more information on the network go to:
https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Pharmacy/FillPrescriptions/Network

Navy to Review Recent OTH Discharges
The U.S. Navy has recently agreed to review more than nine years’ worth of other-than-honorable discharges given to thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder or certain other trauma-related health conditions. That announcement follows preliminary court approval of a settlement of a 2018 lawsuit alleging that a Navy board had improperly denied a Marine Corps veteran's request for a better discharge status.

The suit was filed by Tyson Manker and the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress. Manker, who served from 1999 to 2003 and earned multiple awards and commendations, received an other-than-honorable discharge for smoking marijuana. The settlement would require the Navy to review discharge status upgrade applications made to the Naval Discharge Review Board between March 2, 2012, and Oct. 12, 2021.

The review applies to Navy and Marine Corps veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan era who were given OTH discharges and were partially or fully denied upgrade relief, the Navy said in a statement. The settlement also expands reapplication rights for eligible applicants who were discharged and received an adverse review board decision between Oct. 7, 2001, and March 2, 2012. In addition, the Navy agreed to provide discharge review board members and staffers with annual training in PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, military sexual trauma and other behavioral or mental health conditions, according to the settlement.

VA Still Seeking VHA Boss
As FRAtoday goes to press the Department of Veterans Affairs has abandoned its initial search for someone to lead its huge health care system (Veterans Health Administration) and is starting the process all over again. The VA is establishing another commission to help choose a candidate for the role of undersecretary for health - a position that oversees hundreds of hospitals and clinics that comprise the largest health care system in the country. Whoever takes the job will be responsible for hundreds of thousands of employees and an annual budget of about $61 billion.

The VA has been without a confirmed leader of the Veterans Health Administration for more than four years, since the position was held by David Shulkin. Shulkin left the position in February 2017 after he was nominated by then-President Donald Trump as the VA secretary.

Dr. Richard Stone served as the acting undersecretary for nearly three years and led the VA's reply to the coronavirus pandemic. Stone resigned in June, once it was clear that the initial commission charged with finding an undersecretary did not select him to stay in the role on a permanent basis.

House Passes Bill to give Medal to Service Members Killed in Afghanistan
The House unanimously passed a bill (H.R. 5142) to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. troops killed in a bomb blast outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul. Eleven Marines, one Navy sailor and one Army soldier died from the explosion set off by a suicide bomber near the airport on August 26, 2021.  In addition, 18 U.S. service members were injured. The bill sponsored by Rep. Lisa McClain (Mich.) will go to the Senate for further consideration. 

Former Chairman JCS Colin Powell Passes Away
Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State, has died from COVID-19 complications, according to a statement from his family. Colin Powell was the first African American to serve as Secretary of State. He was the youngest and the first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He served as Chairman from Oct. 1989 to Sept. 1993, the highest military position in the Department of Defense.

Powell was born in New York City in 1937 and was raised in the South Bronx. His parents were immigrants from Jamaica. He was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor's degree in geology. He participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958.

He was a professional soldier for 35 years, during which time he held many command and staff positions and rose to the rank of four-star general. During his time as Chairman JCS, he oversaw several crises, including the invasion of Panama in 1989 and Operation Desert Storm against Iraq in 1990-1991. As Secretary of State, he formulated the Powell Doctrine which limits American military action unless it satisfies criteria regarding American national security interests, overwhelming force, and widespread public support.

VA will Start Collecting Over-payment and Medical Co-pays
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is restarting over-payment notices for new debts and debts that were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic from April 6, 2020, through September 30, 2021. Although debt collections and collections on medical copayments restarted on Oct. 1, 2021, VA will not begin to deduct debts from benefits payments until January 2022. Options to request debt relief due to financial hardship will be included in debt notification letters that will be sent to veterans. 
2022 COLA Announced
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently announced that the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for 2022 will be 5.9 percent. This is the largest increase since 1981. 

The new COLA rate adjustment will appear in the Dec. 30, 2021 payment. This increase pertains to military retirees, veterans receiving disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security recipients and others. 

By law, COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which is a broad measure of consumer prices generated by the BLS from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year. It measures price changes for food, housing, clothing, transportation, energy, medical care, recreation and education. The COLA increase has averaged 1.65 percent for the past 10 years (2011-2020), and in 2009, 2010 and 2015 the increase was zero.

Post 9-11 GI Bill Users Must Contact VA Every Month
The Department of Veterans Affairs implemented a new rule for Post 9-11 GI Bill users to verify their school attendance with the VA each month before receiving any payments. Starting this December, that requirement will be expanded to all Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients. 

Users of all other GI Bill programs, such as the Montgomery GI Bill, have long been required to verify their school attendance each month. If they do not verify their attendance, they will not get their benefits. GI Bill users who are attending a technical school, also known as a "non-college degree" or NCD school, must verify their school attendance with the VA each month in order to receive their Monthly Housing Allowance.

DOD Report: Military Suicide Increasing
The Department of Defense (DoD) recently released its annual suicide report with data from 2020. The report shows that military suicides increased from 2015 to 2020. The active-duty suicide rate increased 15 percent (504 to 580).  Among the services, the Army showed both the highest suicide events and the highest rate. The rates by branch of service is as follows:
•	Army: 175 deaths at 36.4-per-100,000 soldiers.
•	Navy: 66 deaths at 19.3-per-100,000 sailors.
•	Marine Corps: 62 deaths at 33.9-per-100,000 Marines.
•	Air/Space Force: 81 deaths at 24.3-per-100,000 airmen/guardians.

The Reserves saw an increase from 18.2 to 21.4-per-100,000 between 2019 and 2020, undoing the notable drop seen in the previous year, when the rate came down from 22.9 in 2018.
The FRA supports improvements of the VA and DoD suicide prevention programs that reduce the rate of suicide among veterans and active-duty service members.

Another CR May be Needed 
Before October 1, 2021 Congress approved a stopgap funding measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR-H.R.5305) to prevent the U.S. government from partially shutting down on Oct. 1, 2021, the start of the new fiscal year. This CR is keeping the government open at current spending levels until December 3, 2021.  This will give Congress time to approve appropriations (spending) bills and to be signed into law by the president. If not, Congress will have to enact another CR before December 3, 2021. 

In the event of a government shutdown, active-duty military personnel will be paid because they are considered “essential workers.” Retirees will continue to be paid because funding for their benefits are not required to be appropriated by Congress (mandatory funding). TRICARE benefits also will continue if there is a shutdown. Those receiving veterans’ benefits will continue to get benefits because the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has two-year funding (an FRA supported initiative) and already has funding for FY2022.   

DoD Temporarily Increases BAH in Certain Areas
The Department of Defense (DoD) temporarily increased 2021 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for 56 housing markets (commonly referred to as Military Housing Areas, MHAs) across the U.S. Uniformed service members who have incurred increased housing costs above their current BAH may be eligible to apply and receive BAH at the temporarily higher rate. The increased BAH rates for affected active duty in these MHAs took effect Oct. 1, 2021 and expire on Dec. 31, 2021.

Some Veterans Are Eligible for Education Refunds
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is looking for certain veterans who may be eligible for refunds from the Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). The VA estimates 115,000 veterans may be entitled to a refund of this benefit. Eligible veterans must have entered active duty from Jan. 1, 1977, to June 30, 1985; completed their first period of service; contributed to VEAP while on active duty and before April 1, 1987; have unused contributions; and not have been dishonorably discharged. 

If you have unused VEAP funds, you should submit VA Form 22-5281, after completing sections 1-6, 14, 15, and 18. It will take 3 to 4 weeks to receive a response and/or refund via U.S. Treasury check. If you are unsure if you are eligible for a refund or whether you participated in VEAP, call the Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551 domestically or 001-918-781-5678 overseas, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time.

More Troops and Veterans will see Federal Student Loan Fees Waived
As many as 47,000 service members and veterans will see some of their federal student loan debt reduced due to new policies implemented by the Department of Education. “Brave men and women in uniform serving our country can now focus on doing their jobs and coming home safely, not filling out more paperwork to access their hard-earned benefits,” Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray said in a statement announcing the change.

Currently, troops who are deployed to overseas combat zones and hostile fire areas could have interest on many federal student loans waived. The rules include student loans first paid out after Oct. 1, 2008. For some individuals, that extra interest can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. But until now, getting those additional fees waived required lengthy paperwork proving past military service and deployments. Department of Education officials said fewer than 5,000 service members and veterans requested the interest fees be waived in recent years. The new policy change shifts the burden from student veterans and troops to federal officials. 

Loan recipients should see the changes appear automatically in their accounts. Individuals with questions can contact Department of Education officials with questions regarding the benefit. More information on the changes is available on the Department of Education website.

FEATURE  STORY

A Time For Looking Ahead

Incoming National President James Campbell from Chesapeake Branch 40 Looks Ahead to the Future

By W.D. Stevenson

James “Jim” Campbell was elected to the position of National President of the Fleet Reserve Association and was installed virtually by using a Zoom video call on Oct. 8. Campbell was installed during the 93rd FRA National Convention, which was held at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center in Spokane Valley, Washington. 
Campbell has been an active member of the FRA since 1996 and is currently with Chesapeake Branch 40, located in Chesapeake, Virginia. Jim and his wife Tina, who is a member of Unit 40 in Chesapeake, reside in Carrollton, Virginia. 

Serving in the Navy
Campbell served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. For the first six years, he was a gunner’s mate and during the remaining 14 years he was a mess management specialist, attaining the rank of senior chief.

He served on the USS SARATOGA (CVA-60); in Assault Craft Unit 2; in VA-87; at Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine; with VP-26; on the USS DEWEY (DDG-45); with Naval Communications Unit Cutler, Maine; in Pre-commissioning Unit USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72); and aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73). He also deployed as part of operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield and served as the command senior chief aboard the USS AUSTIN (LPD-4). He retired from active duty at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia, on March 31, 1993.

Joining the FRA?
When asked about the FRA, Jim said: “I joined the Fleet Reserve Association purely out of curiosity. I had been receiving information about the FRA through the mail. I happened to like what I was reading about the FRA and decided to check it out. As a result, I became a Member-at-Large.” 

He joined but had no idea what the organization was all about. 

“I started to attend Branch 40 meetings with my buddy Mike Campbell,” he said. “Back in 2002, I decided to join the branch.” 

That was where he first met Jim Scarbro, a straight shooter and one of those Shipmates who stayed actively involved with the FRA for many years. 

“At the time, Jim was past regional president, and I remember he said to me, ‘just get involved.’ So, I eventually became branch president in just three short years,” Campbell recalled. “Then while Jim was national president, he said to me, ‘Be my national chaplain.’”

Campbell said with a true fondness for Jim that “he was always there to keep me moving forward, pushing all the time as only Jim could do.”

Throughout the years, Campbell started to get more involved within the FRA at the local, regional and national levels. 

“I started to see just what the FRA has been doing for our enlisted sea services,” said Campbell. “The FRA has been doing things to help veterans who happen to be in times of need. We are busy representing the interests of our sea service veterans before our lawmakers on Capitol Hill. We are also working within our communities and supporting several youth groups and activities. The list goes on and we all need to consider that no two branches are identical. Each has their own purpose within their community.”

Now when Campbell thinks about his decision some 25 years later, he says without any hesitation, “I am glad that I joined the FRA.”

Looking Forward
When asked about his plans for the upcoming year, Campbell laid out the following strategies for regions and branches to consider. He thinks we need to figure out how to attract the younger active-duty sailors. Many younger service members do not see the draw of joining the Fleet Reserve Association. They do not want to listen to old war stories while sitting in a smoke-filled bar. They want a place they can go where they can relax, unwind and have access to being connected through social media and other online communities. 

Jim also said he has plans for his regional presidents. The Senior Enlisted Academy located in Newport, Rhode Island, is back to conducting its mission of providing senior enlisted leaders with education and training in communication skills, leadership and management, national security affairs, Navy programs, and physical fitness. The SEA is the Navy’s only professional military education institute for its senior enlisted force. This is where Campbell and two other Shipmates, NE/NEng. Regional President Neil Ross and NE/NEng. Past Regional President Abe Zino, will visit Dec. 16. The academy has given them a good reception and is excited to be back to its regular schedule after the past two years of COVID-19 delays and restrictions. 

“This is where we can reach out and inform the graduates about the FRA,” said Campbell.

In addition to the SEA, there is United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, New Jersey, which is considered the home of the Coast Guard’s enlisted corps because it is the Coast Guard’s only enlisted accession point and recruit training center. The North Central Region has access to Naval Station Great Lakes, home of Navy boot camp, and in the Southeast there are the Marine Corps base and recruit depot on Parris Island, South Carolina. Campbell thinks regional officers in those areas could similarly reach out to familiarize graduating classes with the FRA.

Getting On Base
Getting access to bases is crucial for the FRA to try to achieve. According to Jim, this is not as “impossible” as some Shipmates might think. The key is to get on base to inform and educate, but most importantly, not to actively recruit. Setting up a booth or table on a regular basis is a great strategy to attract younger service members.

Campbell has a friend who is a senior chief and has expressed that she would like to become an accredited veteran service officer, so he asked her to get involved with the FRA. Since the Navy has limited the access to the Transition Assistance Program that helps active-duty service members transition into the civilian workforce, Campbell thinks this is an avenue worth pursuing.

“If we can have senior enlisted people who are accredited, they can advise these young folks with their journey while also getting them onboard with the FRA. I spoke with the legal guys, and they assured me there is no conflict of interest with FRA providing service members with information helping them along,” said Campbell. “I asked them [the command at base] if they could consider the time a service member spends with the FRA to be categorized as collateral duty. I did not hear back from them yet, but at least we didn’t get a no.” 
These are just a few ideas Jim has to help the FRA stabilize its ranks.

Level Out the Membership
Jim thinks the FRA has got to bring stability to its membership and really make the effort to stop the shrinkage within its membership.
 
“It’s not just the FRA. Most all veteran organizations are experiencing the exact same thing,” said Campbell. “We have lost so many of our World War II veterans, which was a big loss. Along with their passing to the staff of the Supreme Commander, we are seeing that happen with the Korean and my era, the Vietnam, veterans.”

Even those from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which started 20 years ago, are returning from the Middle East. 
“These young folks returning from the sandbox just want to get on with a normal life and sort of forget about their experiences there,” said Campbell. Jim thinks veteran organizations can help with the healing process that many of these service members need.

“Our membership needs to even out so we can take a breath and really figure out where we are going. When I was national chaplain in 2010, my wife and I signed and sent more than 2,100 condolence cards. That wasn’t to everyone that passed on that year. It was only the Shipmates that we were told about. There were, I am sure, many more who we just didn’t find out about,” said Campbell.

Convention Time
I am looking forward to the next convention, which is planned for Birmingham, Alabama, next October. Jim is going to the city along with several other leaders from the LA FRA and the FRA this month. There is a lot of ground to cover when preparing for a convention.

Campbell recalls his favorite convention. It was the event held in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jim had procrastinated in making his room reservations so that by the time he called the hotel, they were full. Just as Jim and his wife Tina were about to book a room on a riverboat, the hotel asked them if they would consider sleeping in a renovated train car. 
“Everyone wanted to stop by and check out our accommodations,” he said.

No Regrets
In conclusion, Campbell says emphatically, “There is not a day that goes by that I don’t feel honored and proud to be a member of the FRA and helping to continue all of the many things that the FRA does for our sea services and their families.”

As Jim reflected upon his past year of service as the FRA’s national vice president, it seemed only recently that he had told Mick Fulton, “If you ever run for national president, I will run as your vice president,” not knowing if that would ever happen. 

“When Mick said I needed to get my resolution in, I could hear Jim Scarbro’s voice saying, ‘I told you,’” Campbell said.”          

FEATURE STORY

Remembering the Attack on Pearl Harbor
USS ARIZONA Survivor Lou Conter Recalls the Day of Infamy and Its Aftermath
By Elise M. Howard

Quartermaster 3rd Class Louis A. Conter was not really supposed to be standing on the quarterdeck of the USS ARIZONA (BB-39) on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. He should have been on his way to flight school in Pensacola, Florida, fulfilling a personal dream. But for cost-saving reasons, the captain had ordered Conter to remain aboard until the ARIZONA made a scheduled trip to California later that month. And like Conter, the ARIZONA was not really supposed to be there either. It had been scheduled to perform training exercises at sea until Dec. 8, but had been ordered back to port early. Thus, here they both were, anchored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, looking out at the start of a temperate day as the ship’s band warmed up for morning colors.
Conter had taken over as quartermaster of the watch at 7:45 a.m. Around 7:55 a.m., the band’s warm-up became less and less audible over another, overwhelming sound: the low whine of approaching Japanese planes.

A Rapid Response
In his memoir, “The Lou Conter Story: From USS Arizona Survivor to Unsung American Hero,” co-authored by Annette C. Hull and Warren R. Hull, Conter recalled that the response of the USS ARIZONA’s crew was immediate. They had been engaged in war-preparedness exercises almost constantly since April 1940, so reporting to their battle stations was like a reflex.
“The first call was to close all watertight doors, and immediately thereafter we sounded general quarters,” Conter wrote. “Within thirty seconds of seeing the first Japanese plane, the first guns were firing, and within two minutes, the five-inch antiaircraft guns were as well.”
As Conter recorded these events in the logbook, Commanding Officer Capt. Franklin Van Valkenburgh stepped into the quartermaster’s office. He ordered Conter to secure the quarterdeck, then head to the bridge. 
But before Conter could reach the bridge, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Donald Graham got his attention with an urgent request. The USS VESTAL had been performing repair work on the ARIZONA the day before and was still tied to the battleship. Despite the raging fires, falling bombs and enemy machine guns strafing the deck, Conter joined Graham in releasing the lines to the VESTAL and pulling in the ARIZONA’s gangplank. Graham later received his second Navy Cross for spearheading this effort, which allowed VESTAL to get underway. 
Then, between 8:05 and 8:07 a.m., Conter said, a sound broke out amid the cacophony of aircraft engines, machine guns, antiaircraft guns, torpedo hits, falling bombs and shouting men that was “massive and unlike anything I had ever heard before or since.” A bomb had struck the forward starboard side at the No. 2 turret, crashing through five steel decks and exploding near the powder handling room, where men were loading gunpowder and ammunition into the turret’s guns.
“A million pounds of powder blew up,” Conter said in an interview. “That's when the bow came out of the water about 30 feet, and everything was on fire from the mainmast forward.”
In his memoir, Conter further described the bomb’s impact: 
“The explosion had gutted the forward decks. The turrets and the conning tower had dropped forty feet into the ship’s hull, the forward mast had tilted hard to her starboard side, the bow sagged where it split from the rest of the hull, and the Arizona was burning furiously. Fire and black smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the sky.
“I never made it to the bridge.”

Saving Wounded Shipmates
Following the explosion, recently conscious Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Fuqua became the most senior officer aboard. A coolheaded damage control officer, Fuqua quickly organized teams of survivors to battle the blaze on deck, tend to the wounded and return fire from the remaining guns. 
Conter’s small team assisted their wounded shipmates as they poured out of the forward half of the ship. Some of the men had been blinded by the blast; others were literally on fire as they ran toward the quarterdeck. In their panic, many of these men jumped overboard, where tragically, what awaited them on the water’s surface was a layer of burning fuel and oil. 
“LCDR Fuqua gave the order to physically restrain and even render our wounded shipmates unconscious if necessary to prevent them from jumping ship,” Conter wrote. “As a man emerged from the smoke and flames, several of us would rush to help him; sadly, however, as we guided these men to safety, more often than not, their burned skin would come off in our hands. It was horrible . . . absolutely horrible.”
For about 25 minutes, Conter laid wounded sailors on a designated area of the deck, loaded them into lifeboats and delivered the boats to shore. When it became apparent that the ARIZONA could not be saved, Fuqua gave the order to abandon ship, remaining aboard until the last injured men left. 

One Job After Another
There was no time to rest or contemplate the morning’s events once ashore. Just before the second wave of Japan’s attack began, Conter and several of his shipmates boarded a 50-foot motor launch to rescue men from the blazing harbor, as well as from the USS VESTAL, which had been hit with two bombs. 
Conter recalled in an interview that the flaming survivors were pulled out of the water by hand, resulting in burns for some members of the rescue teams. Despite these heroic efforts, most pulled from the water died almost immediately. Of the dozens brought to shore, however, some survived and two even became close friends with Conter later. In total, the ARIZONA lost 1,177 men; Conter was one of only 335 crew members to survive.
As the wounded awaited transportation to the hospital, the crew went back aboard the motor launches for firefighting. Nearly a million pounds of gunpowder still remained on board at the No. 3 and No. 4 turrets, and the raging fire threatened to engulf them at any moment. 
“We were getting very close to the fire [and it] was very hot. We'd come in underneath of it with the fire hoses and help put it out,” Conter said. “A lot of our people got burned. … The enlisted men had shorts on and t-shirts, so their arms and their legs got burned.”
As they battled the flames for 48 straight hours, none of the crew knew what the coming hours would hold. Would the Japanese return for a third wave, or perhaps a full-scale invasion? Whatever their concerns for the future or their grief for the day’s events, there simply was not time to think about them.
“You had a job to do and you did your job the best you could,” Conter said. “And then when it was finished, you got out of there and they sent you to another job.”
When he was finally relieved on Tuesday night, Conter slept for over 12 hours. 

The Final Rescue Effort
About five days later, the fire aboard the ARIZONA had subsided and it was deemed safe enough to begin the final phase of the rescue effort. The clock was ticking for anyone who may have been trapped inside now-submerged watertight compartments. Led by Water Tender 1st Class Pete Hozar, Conter and about 10 to 15 other ARIZONA survivors donned bronze shallow-water diving helmets, which allowed them to stay underwater for about 20 to 40 minutes. 
Conter had never dived before, but said he “didn’t have time to be nervous.” The work was dangerous, as the wreckage’s ruptured metal surfaces presented a constant threat to the men’s air hoses, which were manually supplied from the surface. The mission also included recovering any bodies found in the ship, a grisly task. 
“I remember my first dive; we found about five bodies in the officers’ quarters,” Conter wrote. “We would have to get the air out of the bodies before sending them topside, where they were cared for on a platform that had been set up.”
After several days, the search was called off, as no survivors had been found and concerns were mounting about the risks to the divers. 
Through a chance meeting with Rear Adm. William L. Calhoun, Conter was able to obtain new orders to flight school, since his original ones had been lost in the attack. In mid-January 1942, Conter finally began his journey to Naval Air Station Pensacola. 

A Legacy of Survival
Conter went on to have a remarkable 28-year career in the Navy, which he details in his memoir. For the rest of the war, he flew in VP-11’s “Black Cat” PBY squadron, including an exacting mission to evacuate 219 Australian Coastwatchers from cannibal-filled, mountainous jungles in New Guinea. He was shot down twice, in one case treading water and punching hungry sharks alongside his aircrew until a passing aircraft dropped a lifeboat for them. 
Based on these survival experiences, his work as an intelligence officer during the Korean War and intensive Army survival training, Conter and Herbert Brucker developed the curriculum for the Navy training program known as SERE: Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape. Generations of service members owe their lives to Conter’s SERE course, which continues his legacy today as mandatory training for aviators, aircrews and special operations forces across military branches.  
Conter celebrated his 100th birthday in September. He has been a member of the FRA for longer than he can remember and is currently part of Sunrise Branch 230 in Roseville, California. He has traveled back to Hawaii numerous times for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“I was one of the lucky ones who went on to live my life, do some fantastic things, and meet some incredible people,” Conter wrote. “I will, and I must, do whatever I can do each year to honor the sacrifices of those who gave their lives that day and in the war that followed. Although it’s never easy for me to remember the devastation of the attack, … I hope that the sacrifices made by those men will live on with Americans for generations.”        

Return to Table of Contents

 

MEMBERHSIP MATTERS

Membership & Retention Awards

Frank J. McPherson Memorial Award
This award is competitively awarded by the National Convention Membership and Retention Committee to one shipmate who exemplifies the three Cardinal Principles of the Fleet Reserve Association, especially in membership endeavors. The shipmate selected must have expended extensive effort towards the overall growth of the Fleet Reserve Association. 

The selectee need not necessarily be a top recruiter, but an individual who has maintained a positive public attitude as it affects the membership and retention of members of the Association. Names of qualified nominees for this award, accompanied by an affidavit supporting the nomination were submitted by branches, to the respective Regional Chairman, Membership and Retention Committee by June 30, 2021. 

Regional Presidents forwarded their nominee, along with supporting documents, to the chairman, National Committee on Membership and Retention on or before Sept. 15, 2021, which was more than 7 days prior to the convening of the national convention. The committee meeting at the national convention voted not to extend this award for the 2020-2021 membership term. 

Charles E. Lofgren Awards
The Charles E. Lofgren Award for excellence in FRA membership recruiting is to perpetuate and honor the memory of our late National Secretary, Charles E. Lofgren.
There are ten Charles E. Lofgren Awards, five for individual top recruiters and five for the top FRA branches in recruiting. They are awarded to individuals, recruiters and branches in each of the association’s five membership groups. The individual will receive an award. The branch will receive a ships bell.  The recipients are selected based on the number and percentage of recruited members during the membership year. The 2020-21 awardees were:

Individual Awards (Top Recruiters):
Group I: Glenn S. Murashige, Branch 24 (Annapolis, MD) 72
Group II: William Ayers, Branch 290 (Atlantic Beach, FL) 8
Group III: Logan Wilson, Branch 293 (Elizabeth City, NC) 8
Group IV: James E. Brown, Branch 226 (Staten Island, NY) 5
Group V: No award granted.

Branch Awards 
(Top Overall Branch Recruiting):
Group I: Branch 24 Annapolis, MD 7.04% 147 members
Group II: No award granted.
Group III: Branch 316 Springfield, MO 1.72% 2 members
Group IV: Branch 146 Johnsville, PA 4.92% 3 members
Group V: Branch 335 Port Orange, FL 19.05% 4 members
Our sincerest congratulations were extended to the hard working and deserving Charles E. Lofgren Award recipients. Their individual and collective endeavors in membership promotion and retention are deeply appreciated.

Gold Lapel Pin Award
Any member of the Fleet Reserve Association or Auxiliary who recruits ten new or reinstated members are eligible to receive the Gold Lapel Pin, a Gold Membership Card, and a Letter of Commendation signed by the National President on a one-time basis.
The award was presented to the following members during the 2020-2021 membership year:
Marcia L. Cunningham, Branch 14 Milwaukee, WI
Joyce Harris, Branch 20 Groton, CT
Pat McLellan, Branch 20 Groton, CT
Alice G. Smith, Branch 70 Poway, CA
Gabriel Falu, Branch 99 Virginia Beach, VA
Steve C. McCulloch, Branch 99 Virginia Beach, VA
Joseph C. Bland, Branch 163 Phoenix, AZ
Chris Chapman, Branch 289 Imperial Beach, CA
David M. Martineau, Branch 290 Mayport, FL
Lena R. Null Wood, Branch 290 Mayport, FL
Dennis C. Ringheimer, Branch 290 Mayport, FL

Recruiting 32 Members Award
An awards program was established in 2005 to provide an incentive to FRA members who worked hard to recruit thirty-two (32) new or reinstated members. The awards offered to members who participated in this recruiting effort were a paid life membership or $100 cash award. During the 2020-21 membership year the following members received these awards:
John H. Bocchicchio, Branch 24, Life Membership
Patrick J. Guibao, Branch 24, Life Membership
Glenn S. Murashige, Branch 24, Life Membership

Silver Anchor Squadron Award
Any member of the Fleet Reserve Association or Auxiliary who recruits fifty new or reinstated members subsequent to Sept. 13, 1974, shall be presented with a Silver Anchor Squadron Award Pin, Silver Anchor Squadron Certificate and a Letter of Commendation. The recipient this year was Stephen J. Miglionico, Sr., Branch 117 Orlando, Florida.

Abraham M. Rosenberg Award
From the branches winning the Charles E. Lofgren Award, one branch is selected for its achievements in outstanding membership promotion. Shipmate Abraham M. Rosenberg served as National President in 1934-35. No branch was awarded this recognition in 2020-2021 due to state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions, which severely restricted branch activities across the country. 

Gold Ribbon Award
The FRA 100% Gold Ribbon is awarded to each branch that maintains the same membership total or increases their branch membership by one or more members from April 1 through March 31 of the following year. This total must indicate the branch has maintained or increased members on board. Just 16 branches qualified under the previous criteria. This year the committee voted to modify the criteria to exclude deaths from the calculation. In addition, members who merged into a branch from another branch as result of a National Board of Directors action were not included in making this calculation. For the 2020-21 membership year, 46 branches qualified for this award.

Group 1 (513 members or more)
Branch 24 EC MD, Annapolis 8.97%
Branch 269 SE SC, Goose Creek 4.55%

Group 2 (313 to 512 members) None

Group 3 (113 to 312 members)
Branch 90 SW NV, Clark County 54.67%
Branch 117 SE FL, Orlando 26.67%
Branch 316 NC MO, Springfield 6.31%
Branch 89 SE GA, Atlanta 5.69%
Branch 293 EC NC, Elizabeth City 3.64%
Branch 210 SE FL, Milton 2.17%
Branch 172 EC VA, Yorktown 0%

Group 4 (63 to 112 members)
Branch 146 NE/NENG PA, Johnsville 6.67%
Branch 104 NW WA, Puyallup 4.44%
Branch 159 SC TX, Houston 3.17%
Branch 183 SE FL, Interlachen 2.94%
Branch 226 NE/NENG NY, Staten Island 2.75%
Branch 38 NW WA, Spokane 1%
Branch 197 WC CA, Modesto 1%
Branch 112 SE AL, Birmingham 1.33%
Branch 17 NC OH, Cleveland 0%
Branch 238 NC WI, Plover 0%
Branch 04 EC DC, Washington 0%
Branch 230 WC CA, Roseville 0%
Branch 86 SE TN, Millington 0%

Group 5 (10 to 62 members)
Branch 335 SE FL, Port Orange 19.04%
Branch 258 NE/NENG PA, Erie 11.11%
Branch 62 SW CA, San Diego 9.76%
Branch 244 WC CO, Grand Junction 9.09%
Branch 15 SE SC, Walhalla 8.82%
Branch 250 SE FL, Sarasota 8.33%
Branch 72 NE/NENG MA, Fall River 7.84%
Branch 98 SC LA, Shreveport 4.55%
Branch 301 EC NC, Greenville 3.7%
Branch 251 SC AR, Mt Home 2.7%
Branch 248 SE GA, Camden County 2.08%
Branch 194 SE TN, Knoxville 1.82%
Branch 216 NC IA, Cedar Rapids 1.64%
Branch 154 NW PI, Baguio City 0%
Branch 295 SC TX, San Angelo 0%
Branch 227 SC AR, Springdale 0%
Branch 242 NC IA, Davenport 0%
Branch 339 SE GA, Albany 0%
Branch 184 SE GA, Warner Robins 0%
Branch 219 EC VA, Richmond 0%
Branch 92 SC LA, New Orleans 0%
Branch 102 SE FL, St. Petersburg 0%
Branch 377 NC IN, Terre Haute 0%
Branch 187 SE TN, Chattanooga 0%  

SHIPMATE NEWS

1. Branch 115, Lehigh Valley, Pa.
The branch honored the Coast Guard’s 231st birthday during their monthly meeting on Aug. 9. The local Allentown, Pennsylvania, Mission BBQ supplied lunch for the branch members to help celebrate the occasion. (L to R) Nancy Smith, Mission BBQ Community Outreach Director and gold start mother stands beside branch members Harry Newhard, Bruce Williamson and John Treiber — all former Coast Guard members. 

2. Branch 89, Atlanta, Ga. 
The branch supports Wreaths Across America by collecting donations, assisting with the placement of wreaths, and disseminating information throughout the community. Shipmates from Branch 89 presented a $1,000 check to Tom Wilder, coordinator for WAA at the national cemetery in Canton, Georgia.  Photo by Tracy Poole.

3. Branch 104, Puyallup, Wash.
Branch Secretary Rex Faubion (L) and Branch President PNP John Johnson (R) were at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup manning an information booth for recruiting. This was the branch’s 9th year participating at the state fair.

4. Branch 146, Johnsville, Pa.
Shipmate Tom Mahoney was honored during the August branch meeting. Branch President Otto Blavier presented an Honor’s Statement to Tom’s wife, MaryAnne. Tom was buried with honors at Washington Crossing National Cemetery on June 15th.

5. Branch 146, Johnsville, Pa.
The branch held its annual picnic on Aug. 14 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. We were happy to have several members from Branch 1 join the picnic this year.

6. Branch 89, Atlanta, Ga.
Branch President Ernie Rose (L) with funeral director Todd Sanders from Darby Funeral Home in Canton, Georgia.  Sanders answered Shipmates’ questions regarding expectations, expenses and other details relating to funerals. He also provided Veteran Planning Guides to Shipmates

7. Branch 94, Corpus Christi, Texas
Branch President Ricardo Hankerson (R) presents Samuel Silvas (L) his Branch scholarship award, consisting of a $1,000 check and certificate. Silvas enrolled in dual credit classes and graduated from Flour Bluff High School with honors while also graduating from Del Mar College with a certificate.

8. Southeast Region
The Southeast Region just held their conventions, which was the 75th for the FRA and the 73rd for the LA FRA region. Jack Fogel of Branch 294 and Jerry Anger of Branch 112 were elected as the new FRA president and vice president of the Southeast Region, respectively. For the LA FRA's Southeast Region, Ronalee S. Klase of Unit 22 was elected president and Lee Nettles of Unit 269 was elected vice president.

9. Branch 115, Lehigh Valley, Pa.
(L to R) Shipmates Dan Heitzer, Roger Rehm, Larry Roth and Bill Noble participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Aug. 28.

10. Branch 49, Denver, Col0.
On Sept. 16, Branch Secretary Jeff Hatcliff attended the West Metro Veterans Fair in Lakewood, Colorado. Many sea service veterans that stopped by were not aware of the FRA, which allowed Hatcliff to discuss the benefits of joining the FRA. Applications were flowing freely.

11. Branch 230, Roseville, Calif.
On July 5, Shipmate and retired Navy Master Chief Kenneth Smith was presented his 50-year membership pin and certificate by Branch 230. (L to R) JBranch Secretary Jerry McColley, Branch President Don Goard, Shipmate Kenneth Smith and West Coast Regional President and Branch Master-at-Arms Bill Hanzel.

12. Branch 316, Springfield, Mo.
Ozark Empire Branch 316 attended the Marshfield, Missouri first annual Military Festival Sep. 18th. (L to R) Branch Chaplain Don Brunk, Branch President Robert Turner, Branch Secretary Chuck Ewy, and Americanism Essay Contest Chair Norma Wright.

TAPS

Name	Rating	Branch
Abiva, Angel A.	PO1, USN	84
Agler, Richard M.	MSGT, USMC	MAL
Arntzen, Roger L.	AXC, USN	91

Barry, Stanley A.	MU1, USN	162
Beitler, David G.	YNC, USN	01
Bell, John S.	USN	MAL
Bertrand, Ulysses P.	ADJ1, USN	264
Beverlin, William S.	ATC, USN	MAL
Binuya, Teresito D.	YNC, USN	302
Bostick, John E.	TMC(SS), USN	117
Brong, Brian	BT3, USMMS	115
Bullard, Phillip J.	PNCS, USN	MAL
Bush, Carl P.	CPO, USN	MAL
Butler, Ramsey G.	DKCM, USN	346
Butterfield, Eliot H.	ENC, USN	55
Butts, Newton	MSGT, USMC	MAL
Byars, Lewis	AEC, USN	MAL

Calhoun, John B.	AMSC, USN	70
Campbell, William D.	ATCS, USN	MAL
Cheshire, Dee C.	MMCM(SS), USN	20
Collins, Elbert	HMC(SS) USN	55
Combs, Arthur D.	HTC, USN	MAL
Corvera, Juanito E.	MM1, USN	MAL
Crisostomo, Manuel E.	CPO, USN	MAL

Daniel, Ralie P.	MMC, USN	MAL
De Cleene, Louis J.	SHC, USN	14
DeNatale, Anthony G.	SM2, USN	226
Devore, Robert L.	TMC(SS), USN	177
Dickhous, Henry R.	CWO, USN	382
Dilley, Merlyn L.	CTRC, USN	136
Dingee, Carroll R.	CPO, USN	MAL
Doss, Joel B.	HMC, USN	70
Dumm, Richard D.	ADCS, USN	126
Durante, Ted	CWO4, USN	59
Durbin, James A.	RMCS(SW), USN	367

Eaton, Jon J.	OS1, USNR	MAL
Ensko, Joseph P.	HTC, USMC	72
Everly, Julian W.	BMCM, USCG	181

Fegley, Harold K.	ENC, USN	115
Ferguson, Charles	IMC(SW), USN	MAL
Fernandez, Alfredo T.	SDC, USN	85
Fetterman, Dean R.	AFCM, USN	97
Frank, Allen J.	CDR, USN	MAL
Friedman, Joseph	FTCM, USN	MAL
Fuller, Charles E.	SGT, USMC	MAL

Gossett, William D.	LT, USN	269
Graves, Harold C.	GMGC, USN	61
Green, Jerry F.	HMC, USN	MAL

Hagan, Bobby	BT1, USN	MAL
Halloran, John P.	AKCS, USN	161
Hammond, Floyd L.	EMC, USN	60
Harville, Philip T.	TD1, USN	290
Hedenberg, Raymond E.	EMCM, USN	22
Hedley, Stuart N.	EMC, USN	MAL
Herbert, Paul G.	POCS, USN	MAL
Hildebrand, Lew K.	HMC, USN	MAL
Holberg, Joseph F.	PHC, USN	22
Hutchens, Kenneth W.	ICC, USN	20

PNP, Ippert, John D. 	MCPO, USN	94
Irving, George J.	AECS, USN	136
Isham, Willis M.	UTC, USN	MAL
Iverson, Jack E.	ATC, USN	136

Jaeger, James E.	TM1(SS), USN	104
Jansky, Robert E.	RM1, USN	MAL
Johnson, Robert L.	MSGT, USMC	192

Kameoka, Paul Y.	PHCM, USN	04

Lastrella, Nicolas L.	SKCS, USN	127
LeMay, Richard C.	ADRC, USN	MAL
Leonhardi, Conrad J.	AMHC, USN	89
Lipscomb, Charles A.	GMGC, USN	MAL
Lovell, Hollis F.	POC, USN	97

Mauldin, Robert E.	CWO4, USN	99
Mayer, Robert A.	AMS1, USN	91
McClay, James J.	IM2, USN	MAL
Mercer, Gerald R.	HTCS, USN	MAL
Meyers, John E.	BMCM, USN	MAL
Miller, Gerald E.	ETC, USN	104
Mooney, General	GMG1, USN	264

O'Brien, Eugene J.	SKC, USN	MAL
Ognilla, Chris P.	PO1 (SS), USN	MAL
Oscarson, Ralph H.	PH3, USN	MAL

Percival, Bryce	USNR	MAL
Pierce, James W.	ASE2, USN	MAL
Proffitt, Thomas C.	GYSGT, USMC	MAL

Raghianti, Lawrence E.	POCS, USN	MAL
Rider, Danny L.	MCPO, USN	70
Roberts, Clarence E.	RM, USN	24
Roberts, Clyde E.	MSGT, USMC	102
Robson, Robert J.	USN	MAL
Roman, Charles E.	MSGT, USMC	208
Rowley, Kenneth I.	AFCM, USN	210
Ruffian, William C.	GYSGT, USMC	91
Rush, Norman L.	DPCS, USN	117
Russell, Frank L.	LCPL, USMC	281

Seaman, Marvin R.	ETCS, USN	37
Shampine, Dale B.	RMC, USN	60
Shelton, Stanley	AMCS, USN	93
Shepherd, Howard H.	USN	MAL
Shoemake, James W.	SK1, USN	MAL
Sorongon, Remigio	IC1, USN	70
Sosa, Martin D.	CAPT, USMC	208
Spellman, Georgia E.	CAPT, USN	MAL
Spivey, James W.	SKC, USN	MAL
Spoon, Clarence A.	SK2/PO5, USN	MAL
Springfield, Donald G.	SKC, USN	MAL
Swank, John F.	 AVCM, USN	289

Thier, Walter	ADCS, USN	MAL
Thomas, Roland L.	BTC, USN	59
Tirrell, William B.	CDR, USN	MAL
Towne, Thomas A.	RM1, USN	MAL
Tremblay, Francis A.	PNCS, USN	47
 
Velazquez-Ortiz, Juan	HMC, USN	182

Wahlbrink, Glenn A.	AMO3, USN	29
Walter, Everett R.	AQC, USN	MAL
Wheeler, William J.	AMSC, USN	MAL
Williams, Joseph B.	QMC, USN	99
Wilson, Richard	DCC, USNR	104

Yannayon, Weldon A.	AVCM, USN	93

Zazeski, Edward	A02, USN	MAL

Return to Table of Contents

LA FRA Auxiliary

There was no column this issue.
The photos from the convention are viewable online at:
https://www.fra.org/FRA/Web/FRA_Docs/FRAToday/2021/DECEMBER2021-PDF-CAMPBELL.pdf

FINANCE MATTERS

The Caregiver Crunch:  Five Time-and-Money Coping Strategies
For millions of unpaid U.S. caregivers, finding a healthy balance between taking care of children and taking care of elderly loved ones is a constant challenge — and often a drain on time, health and finances. 
According to a 2017 report from Transamerica Institute, 74% surveyed had been caregivers for one or more years, with 27% having provided care for five or more years. Caregiving is a full-time job for many — even though 52% are already employed. Thirty-six percent of caregivers spend 100 or more hours per month on time-intensive duties including companionship, meal preparation, personal care, and feeding.¹  
Additionally, the same Transamerica report found that the health of caregivers often takes a back seat to those they care for — 55% admitted their duties leave them physically and emotionally exhausted. Seventeen percent said their general health has declined since becoming a caregiver. 
This begs the question: “Who cares for the caregivers?” 
If you’re a caregiver, or know someone who is, here are five practical ideas to consider. 
1. If you work, talk with your employer. Caring for family members can be a 24-hour-a-day responsibility, making it nearly impossible to coordinate with the demands of a full-time job. Among those who are employed or who have held jobs during their time as caregivers, approximately one-third have used personal, vacation and sick-leave days for caregiving. Furthermore, depending on household income level, as many as one-fifth of caregivers have taken a leave of absence.¹ 
To find a better balance between your home and work life, discuss these options with your manager and human resources professional:
• Determine if your situation qualifies for the Family and Medical Leave Act. Under this federal law, covered employers may be required to protect your job while you take unpaid leave for qualified medical and family situations. Under FMLA, eligible employees may qualify for 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period.  Even though this is unpaid leave, it could be worth considering if you really need to concentrate on caregiving duties for a period of time.
• Ask if your company has an employee assistance program, or EAP. Some companies have an EAP built into their benefit plans to assist with the challenges that come with caregiving. Benefits may include referrals to counseling services, support groups for caregivers, and services for care recipients. 
• Adjust your work schedule or location. If the nature of your job permits it, talk with your manager about a flexible schedule or working from home — which can also save on commuting time and transportation expenses.
2. If others don’t volunteer their help, ask for it. Don’t assume — or let others assume — you can handle all the caregiving responsibilities alone. If family and friends volunteer help, take it. If they don’t offer, recruit others to ease the burden. Discuss with family members how much time, energy, and money each is able to contribute to your loved one’s care. Don’t be afraid to arrange for “respite time” for yourself; if family members or others contribute time so that you can take a vacation, have time with a friend, or get to your own medical appointments, that will help you be a better caregiver.
Post and share a caregiving chart that lists everyone’s tasks on a weekly or monthly basis. Every minute delegated is time back for you, so no task is insignificant — from your child playing a game with grandma to your sister taking your father to his doctor’s appointment. 
3. Organize financial resources. A 2016 AARP study found U.S. caregivers spend an average of $6,954 a year on out-of-pocket caregiving expenses.² Get a handle on all family financial resources and current living costs — both your loved one’s and your own. Estimate outlays down the road and plan for emergencies. Use budgeting software to track your finances.  If your loved one has limited financial resources, talk to an experienced elder law attorney about whether he or she might qualify for government assistance.  An attorney can also help create the proper legal mechanisms to allow for management of your loved one’s financial resources and property.
4. Take advantage of (free) resources providing information and assistance. Resources such as www.Eldercare.acl.gov, www.Caregiver.com, www.AARP.org, and www.Medicare.gov can provide useful information and contacts. If you’re caring for someone with very limited resources who is receiving Medicaid, find out if your state offers a program that allows recipients to use benefits to pay caregivers. Also check with religious organizations and social services agencies in your community that may provide free or low-cost care or companionship for elderly adults. 
5. Take care of yourself. Save for your future — don’t let supporting loved ones jeopardize your own long-term financial security. Contributions to 401(k) plans, IRAs, and 529 college savings accounts offer tax-benefits that can help you invest more tax-efficiently. 
Finally, don’t feel guilty about scheduling “me time” when you can — have dinner out with friends, play a round of golf, or join a book club or gym. Keep your own health in check with regular doctor’s visits, and use your vacation time to get away and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.    FRA

Footnotes:
1. Transamerica Institute, “The Many Faces of Caregivers: A Close-Up Look at Caregiving and Its Impact” Report, 2017. 
2. AARP, “Family Caregiving and Out-of-Pocket Costs: 2016 Report,” 2016.

Wells Fargo Advisors is not a tax or legal advisor.
This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Carl M. Trevisan, Managing Director-Investments and Stephen M. Bearce, First Vice President- Investments in Alexandria, Virginia at 800-247-8602.
Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT 
FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE
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