FRAtoday February 2021
comunicaitons
FROM THE FANTAIL	3
SHIPMATE FORUM	5
On & Off captol hill	8
FEATURE  STORies	
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS19
SHIPMATE NEWS20
TAPS21
AUXILIARY OF THE FRA24
FINANCE MATTERS25

COMMINICATIONS

The Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Was Established Feb. 13, 1943

Although 305 women served in the Marine Corps during World War I, they were separated from service by June 30, 1919. 
During World War II, the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was established on Feb. 13, 1943. By the end of the first month following the official announcement made by Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Holcomb calling for female Marines, 1,100 female Marines were serving.
Pvt. Lucille McClarren was the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve and more than 20,000 women served as Marines in World War II. They filled 85% of the enlisted jobs in more than 225 different specialties at Marine Corps HQ. In 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act gave women permanent status in both the regular and reserve forces of the Marines.
The Reserve was mobilized in August 1950 for the Korean War with a strength of 2,787 active-duty female Marines. Most of them served as part of the clerical and administrative staff.
In 1967 during the Vietnam War Master Sgt. Barbara Dulinsky became the first female Marine to serve in a combat zone. During the conflict there were about 2,700 female Marines on active duty, both stateside and overseas.
By 1975, the Corps had approved the assignment of women to all occupational fields except infantry, artillery tank crew, piloting and aircrew. More than 1,000 female Marines were deployed in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from 1990 to 1991. During the recent Middle East conflicts, Capt. Elizabeth A. Okoreeh-Baah was the first female MV-22 Osprey pilot on the flight line in Al Asad, Iraq, after a combat operation on March 12, 2008.
Female Marines also served in the Iraq War from 2003 to 2011, and they currently serve in the Afghanistan War that began in 2001 and the American-led intervention in Iraq that began in 2014.
According to the Department of Defense’s 2017 military demographic report, women make up 8.4% of the Marine Corps and are integrated into nearly all military occupational specialties, and are serving in 316 of 326 specialties. The FRA is proud to include within its membership female Marines who carry on the traditions of those first trailblazers and continue to open doors for future generations.
In Loyalty, Protection and Service,
William D. Stevenson, Editor-in-Chief

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FROM THE FANTAIL

We are One Association
There has been an ongoing discussion about two different types of members in the Fleet Reserve Association. It is not annual member versus life member or complimentary member. The question asked is, “Is a branch member more valuable than a Member-at-Large?” The correct answer is both are valuable to the survival of the FRA and its branches.

The Value of Membership
When you talk to prospective members, it is beneficial to discuss the value of membership. Typically, you should provide them with the benefits that an FRA membership offers. 
Both branch members and MALs receive these benefits with their membership:
• Advocacy on Capitol Hill.
• An annual subscription to FRAtoday. 
• Experts who assist with VA and DOD benefits.
• Recognition for continuous membership.
• Discounts from affinity partners.
• Comradery with enlisted sea service veterans. 
On a local level, you should also provide the value of being affiliated with your branch. 
So what does your branch do in its community? Some branches consider their value to be the local branch home, but what else do you provide?  
• Are you working with other groups for charities? 
• Are you involved with youth activities? 
• Are you sponsoring patriotic events?
• Are you family-friendly?
• Are you engaged in other kinds of outreach?
Young veterans often look for organizations that are engaged and involved in their local community. Many say they are looking for a way to give back. How are you as a local branch stepping up to be this connection to those in your community?

Developing an Action Plan
Growing our membership is everyone’s responsibility. In order to make this possible, providing the tools and guidance necessary for success is needed at the local, regional and national levels. 
National headquarters is developing a plan to grow the FRA. Discussions include developing a road map that will be actionable, measurable and used throughout the FRA. This plan is necessary not only to mark our 100th anniversary, but also to carry us into the next 100 years as an association.
As a local branch, you too should develop a plan for not only this year, but also the next three. Look at where your branch is now and determine where you want it to go. Utilize national and regional officers as consultants and be ready to offer recommendations that lead the branch toward success. The national headquarters and current leadership can help you develop a marketing message that is branded with the FRA mission and the values of our organization.

It Is About the Member
Being a member of the FRA is about all our members. A Shipmate’s choice not to affiliate with a local branch may be based on any number of things. Some of the feedback I have received throughout the years is that members choose to be at large because of the distance to the nearest branch or the inability to drive. These are just a few reasons, but we need to remember MALs are all Shipmates. The individual decision to be a Member-at-Large is based on several reasons, which may include personal preferences or circumstances. They are still a member, and still have a voice.
Each year, branches should reach out to local MALs and invite them to attend a branch meeting or to participate in one of the community events. The same effort should be put toward engaging potential members or those Shipmates who left the organization. Providing the value of your local branch will be the first step to helping us all grow.
The more we are able to show our value to current and future members at the national, regional and local levels, the more we can grow the association.
In Loyalty, Protection and Service, 
Chris Slawinski
Chris is the national executive director of the Fleet Reserve Association and may be reached at: NED@FRA.org.

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sHIPMATE FORUM

The Battle of Midway
Dear editor Stevenson,
Thank you for your input on the Battle of Midway. In my opinion, you should have some naval history every month to keep members informed how our Sea Services provided the forces to protect the freedom we have today.
Thank you again and keep up the good work.
ARDC Cecil Seim, USN (Ret.)

FRAtoday: Thank you for your correspondence these past few months. The feedback from readers like you really does have an impact upon the editorial decisions and planning that go into the FRAtoday editorial lineup each year. Just to outline that process for those who might want to provide some ideas for future magazines, the magazine team gets together each September and plans out 24 topics to be in the upcoming year. The topics are influenced by the FRA board, members, staff and, of course, our readers. When topics are suggested, we place them into the process and then try to narrow them down to a nice variety for the upcoming year. Once those topics are decided, we post them in our media kit online. The information is at: www.fra.org/fra/Web/Content/FRA_Today_Ad/FRA_Today_Editorial_Cal.aspx. Bill Stevenson.

CPOs Do Not Get Commissioned
I read with great interest your opening note in the most recent FRAtoday, regarding retired Chief Petty Officer Bill Monfort and was amazed that he was COMMISSIONED as a Chief Petty Officer! 
Maybe they did things differently back in ’43, but just as commissioned officers are never Chief Petty Officers, Chief Petty Officers are never commissioned, it would be considerably beneath their status in the United States Navy and would totally negate a career of sacrifice and growth in their chosen career field!
Very Respectfully. SQUID 
(Submarine Qualified Until I Die)

FRAtoday: Thank you for reading the magazine and taking the time to write a letter. So many of us email, it is nice to get actual mail, just like back in ’43. As you have pointed out, that line in the December issue should have read, “He was aboard the USS CLAXTON (DD-571) when he was promoted to chief petty officer on Feb. 1, 1943, and spent the remaining days of his service on a destroyer.” We appreciate your diligent readership, and hope you enjoy the submarine feature in this issue!

Failed to Get It Right 
Shipmates, I just saw the December 2020 issue of the FRAtoday magazine. I am appalled, embarrassed, and ashamed for this organization. In listing the awards earned this year by our honored Shipmates, we failed to get it right. 
The highly honored McPherson Award to James Murrell Gem State Branch 382 (West Coast Region). What happened to the Northwest Region? When was this branch moved to the West Coast Region? A very simple exercise in proofreading should have caught this gross error. We should be able to do better for our Shipmates and our organization. Branch 382 still has not received a certificate or plaque to be presented to S/M Murrell.
In Loyalty, Protection, and Service, Respectfully,
Danny Hunt, RPNW and President of Branch 382

FRAtoday: Point taken. Mistakes are made, and we published a correction in last month’s FRAtoday thanks to your feedback.  If you will remember, during the Membership & Retention committee meetings it was announced that NHQ had lost their vendor for the plaques and was looking for another.  S/M Murrell will be duly recognized and has personally been recognized by me. In L, P & S, Mick Fulton, National President.

National Maritime Museum at Greenwich
Great article on the British Maritime Museum.  Our progenitors do indeed have a good grip on “the seas.”
There’s a very good title: To Rule the Waves by Arthur Herman (https://www.amazon.com/Rule-Waves-Arthur-Herman/dp/0340734191). The book is an engaging and enjoyable read! It spans centuries from the days of Francis Drake to the war in the Falklands and the author does a very good job of making a book of such wide scope and covering so many eras very enlightening and enjoyable.
This is a very good read for Anglophiles and covers about 400 years of how the British Royal Navy allowed one nation to rise to a level of power unprecedented in history.
Morgan Little

FRAtoday: Dear Captain Little, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the National Maritime Museum story in the December issue of FRAtoday. The research for this one was one of my favorites this year, being as I am a Virginian descended from English stock, and a bit of an Anglophile myself. I’m also an architecture nerd, so that made this one even more of a pleasure. Arthur Herman’s book sounds wonderful, so thank you for that recommendation, too. With best regards, Ann Norvell Gray.

Keep Up the Good Work
Dear Shipmate Jansky,
When I renewed my membership in the Fleet Reserve Association last February, you graciously sent me a pin and letter of appreciation for 50 years of continuous, uninterrupted membership. I want you to know that letter meant a lot to me and was much appreciated. And I want to thank you for your legislative work on Capitol Hill on behalf of all enlisted personnel.
Please keep up your good work!
Sincerely,
Sgt.Maj. LeRoy F. Magargee, USMC (Ret.)

FRAtoday: This letter was in a stack on my desk that frankly, due to COVID-19, was not looked at as frequently as in previous years since we were working remotely most days. The letter was received in September of 2020 and it was supposed to be published much sooner than February 2021. Bill Stevenson.

Thank You, America
As we celebrate our Thanksgiving day, on behalf of the Filipinos who served in the United States Armed Forces of America, I would like to express my deep gratitude and a whole heartfelt “Thank you to America.” 
As citizens of a United States territory, Filipinos were allowed to serve in the U.S. Navy during WWI and WWII until we were granted our independence in 1947. In 1952, the United States and the Philippines agreed to allow Filipino citizens to join the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.  Thousands of Filipinos were recruited and joined the service until the Military Base Agreement was terminated in 1990. 
While in the service, some were promoted to officers and their children were selected to go to the Naval Academy. After years of honorable service, they attained high ranks, even up to Admiral. One was Captain Ronald Ravelo, who was the Captain of USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). Rear Admiral Connie Mariano (MC) was assigned to the White House and was the attending physician of President Clinton.  Her father was a retired Master Chief Petty Officer who also was assigned a tour of duty to the White House. Admiral Bette Bolivar is the Commander of Navy Southwest Region in San Diego. Her father was also a Retired Chief Petty Officer. There are also a few Filipino Commanders who are Commanding Officer of small ships.
We recognize the trust and confidence of the United States of America for allowing us to serve in the most powerful Armed Forces in the world. Additionally, we are proud that the Philippines is the only country in the world selected to recruit members to join the military service without requiring American citizenship.
Domingo F. Moran, USN (Ret.)
Past President, Branch 8, Vallejo, California
Past President, Filipino-American Retired U.S. Armed Forces Association, Vallejo, California

FRAtoday: Shipmate, thank you for your service and also for making the time to send your letter to the magazine. My son-in-law also achieved his citizenship through his commitment to the U.S. Army and made sergeant after three years. There are many Shipmates who feel the same about this wonderful country as you. It is truly the land of opportunity. Bill Stevenson.

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

FRA Legislative Team Working to Push FRA’s Legislative Priorities 
As you receive this issue of FRAtoday the 117th Congress has been sworn in and has been in several days of session during January, and hopefully the coronavirus vaccine has been successful in stemming the tide of the pandemic. The most notable change from the last session of Congress is a new President. The FRA staff has met with the Biden transition team to discuss issues of mutual concern (see story on page 11 for more details). The FRA Legislative Team is working to push for FRA’s legislative priorities for 2021. These priorities have been selected from FRA’s extensive legislative agenda (listed in the January issue of FRAtoday) based on the concerns of its members, the number of personnel affected and the potential for legislative action during the session. The increasing government funding deficit will continue to put pressure on Congress and the president to find ways to slow the growth of government “red ink” including more TRICARE fee increases for retirees. The association will oppose legislative efforts to shift more costs (especially health care costs) to beneficiaries. Members are strongly urged to sign up for NewsBytes and to monitor issues on the FRA Action Center, which has a “user-friendly” method for Shipmates to interact with their elected officials. Use of the Action Center supports the advocacy efforts of the FRA Legislative Team and allows members to directly impact the legislative process in a timely, effective and measurable manner. 

NDAA Passes with Veto Threat
As FRAtoday goes to press, the House and Senate passed the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA-H.R.6395) despite a veto threat from President Trump. The president has indicated he will veto the bill unless Congress abolishes a law that protects technology companies from liability over most user content. President Trump had also previously threatened to veto the must-pass legislation over provisions that would require changing the names of military bases honoring Confederate generals.

The final bill contains provisions related to changing the names of military installations named after Confederate generals but did not include anything related to eliminating liability protections for certain social media platforms. Leaders in both chambers have resisted the inclusion of such a massive change to an unrelated issue in the annual NDAA. House and Senate leadership have expressed confidence that they have the votes to override the veto. 

The final bill includes several FRA-supported provisions that include:
•	Expanding the list of service-connected presumptions under the Agent Orange statute to incorporate bladder cancer, Hypothyroidism and Parkinsonism.
•	Stopping scheduled cuts to military medical staff for 180 days after NDAA is enacted.
•	Requiring the DOD to certify to Congress that any restructuring of Military Treatment Facilities will continue to provide access to health care for all beneficiaries, or 180 days after the date of enactment of the FY2021 NDAA, whichever is later.
•	Requiring a post-health assessment that asks if a service member was exposed to an burn pit during deployment. 
•	Repealing the 180-day delay for military retirees to begin DOD jobs at G-13 and below. The provision expires in three years.
•	Providing annual active duty pay increases that keep pace with civilian pay (three percent) and increasing Hazardous Duty Pay. 
•	Improving military family housing with remediation for environmental hazards, and supporting displaced families because of mold and other exposures. 
•	Reforming programs that assist military families who have children with special needs.
•	Authorizing $70 million for the Armed Forces Retirement Homes. 

This is the 60th consecutive year that Congress passed an annual defense authorization bill. The 4517-page bill authorizes $194.8 billion for personnel programs, which is $1.7 billion less than the Trump Administration requested. It increases overall active-duty end strength by 12,000, including 7,300 more for the Navy and 5,200 less for the Marine Corps and that housing privatization programs are beneficial to service members and their families.

FRA Staff Meets with Biden-Harris Transition Team
The FRA staff and other members of The Military Coalition Veterans Committee met with the incoming Biden-Harris transitioning team to review goals concerning the Department of Veterans Affairs. NED Chris Slawinski serves as co-chair of this TMC committee. The review team, led by Phillip Carter, inquired about specific challenges facing Veteran Service Organizations working with the VA. 

The FRA staff and other coalition staff discussed pathways to solve some of the complex issues facing the VA. Due to the pandemic, there has been a sharp increase in backlogs for claims and appeals. The FRA wants to work with the incoming administration on an effective strategy to clear the backlog. 

The issue of toxic exposure in the military has gained new traction due to rising reports of cancers and other illnesses facing veterans of the Global War on Terrorism. President-elect Biden believes his son Beau’s death can be attributed to toxic exposure while serving in Iraq. During the meeting, several proposals were discussed that would benefit veterans who were exposed to toxic agents during their service. The committee also raised concerns about the veteran’s suicide rate, proper oversight of appropriations and funding of educational benefits such as the Vet Tec Program. The transition team promises to work hand in hand with the community to provide exceptional service to the nation’s veterans. 

Biden Selects New SecDef and VA Secretary
Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden announced that he has selected retired Army General Lloyd Austin as his nominee for Secretary of Defense. General Austin, who would be the first African American to lead the Pentagon, needs a congressional waiver to serve because he does not meet the required seven years of being removed from the military to fill the Pentagon’s top civilian job. Austin led the U.S. Central Command until he retired in 2016 and has served in the military since graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1975. His appointment has run into bipartisan resistance on Capitol Hill, where there are growing concerns about another former commander leading the Pentagon in a nation that has a long tradition of civilian control of the military. 

Presumptive President-Elect Biden also announced he will nominate Denis McDonough, who served as White House chief of staff under President Obama, to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. McDonough, a longtime Senate staffer, also served as a Deputy National Security Adviser during the Obama administration. 

Congress Sends President an Omnibus Veterans Bill
As FRAtoday goes to press, Congress approved the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R.7105), which lawmakers described as an end-of-year omnibus bill for veterans, is more than 340 pages and includes numerous provisions for female veterans, Native American veterans, homeless veterans, student veterans and those veterans who are experiencing the effects of toxic exposures as well as those affected by the coronavirus. 

The bill creates a dedicated Office of Women’s Health at the VA, provides $20 million to retrofit VA hospitals with women’s health spaces and makes permanent a program to provide childcare at VA facilities, among other measures. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.

COVID-19 Update
As FRAtoday goes to press, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that essential health care workers at the VA will be the first to be offered the COVID-19 vaccine. The VA has a limited number of vaccines and the distribution plan addresses vaccinations for veterans, staff and other federal partners including a prioritization framework for identifying the population(s) at highest risk to receive the vaccine. For more information on the VA vaccine program go to: https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed. 

The Department of Defense has announced that its health care workers have begun receiving the vaccine. The Defense Department’s initial allocation of the vaccine is 43,875 doses. Each of the initial 16 U.S. military bases included in the first round of distribution has more than 1,000 people who are in the top priority group to receive vaccines, such as health care workers. 

DOD Releases Survey of Active-duty Spouses
DLP John Davis participated in a conference call with Department of Defense officials to discuss the findings of the 2019 active-duty spouses survey. Since 1985, the survey has been conducted every two years. This year’s report, like those in other years, provide DOD with information on how to adjust family policy in the coming years. During the call, Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness William Bushman said, “These survey results are important because they help us evaluate policy and program success, address issues and gaps in resources and identify areas for necessary improvement.” 

As part of the 2019 survey, more than 65,200 active-duty military spouses were invited to participate. A little more than 10,000, or 16.5% spouses opted to take part. Survey topics covered employment, deployment, reintegration and satisfaction with military life. Some of the results were:
•	56 percent are satisfied with military life (down from 60 percent in 2017).
•	22 percent unemployment rate, which has not changed significantly since 2013.
•	One in five rate deployment support as excellent.
•	42 percent with children use military childcare.
•	21 percent report marital stress due to finances;
•	65 percent are comfortable using military family counseling (only 17 percent have used counseling).
•	95 percent of children in deployed families report stable routine. 
•	23 percent enrolled in school or occupational training (41 percent were not but would like to be enrolled). 

Because the survey was completed in 2019, the effects of COVID-19 did not play a part in the survey.

Disabled Veterans Security and Free Access to National Parks
President Trump signed into law several legislative proposals impacting veterans. One of the laws (S.327, P.L.116-205) provides permanently disabled veterans free, lifetime access to national parks and other federal lands. “This bipartisan bill would allow our brave military men and women living with service-related disabilities the opportunity to experience our federal parks and lands, which can play an important role in their rehabilitation,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), the bill’s sponsor. 

Another bill signed into law was the Improving Safety and Security for Veterans Act (S.3147, P.L.116-212), sponsored by Sen. Joe Manchin (W.V.) was drafted in response to the tragic murder of several veteran patients at the Clarksburg, West Virginia, VA Medical Center by a former nursing assistant who is awaiting sentencing for their deaths. This bipartisan legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit detailed reports on patient safety and quality of care at VA Medical Centers. The legislation ensures that Congress, veterans and their families are fully informed on the policies and procedures in place across the VA nationally. 

BAH Rates for 2021
The Department of Defense recently announced Basic Allowance for Housing adjustments for 2021. The DOD noted that overall average military BAH rates across the country increased an average of 2.9 percent between 2020 and 2021, slightly higher than the 2020 2.8 percent increase.

The BAH rates are based on the combination of local costs for rent and utilities for various housing types. Any fluctuation of one or more of those factors in a given location will affect BAH rates for that location. The BAH is based on geographic duty location, pay grade and dependency status. BAH is designed to provide uniformed service members housing compensation based on housing costs in each local market. BAH is only payable when government quarters, such as barracks, are not provided or when a service member has dependents.

The FRA monitors BAH and is working to restore it to 100 percent of housing costs. The association also wants to reform enlisted housing standards by allowing E-7s and above to reside in separate homes, track BAH to ensure it is commensurate with actual housing costs and ensure adequate housing inventory. 

Change in Committee Leadership
The retirement of Reps. Dr. Phil Roe (Tenn.) and Mac Thornberry (Texas), Ranking members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee respectively, has provided openings on these two important committees. The ranking member is the leading member of the minority party on the committee. The House Republican Caucus selected Rep. Mike Rogers (Ala.) for Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee and Rep. Mike Bost (Il.) for Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Their promotions took effect on the start of the new (117th) Congress that began Jan. 3, 2020. 

Veterans in Congress
According to The Hill newspaper, the number of veterans who will serve in the new Congress (117th) continues a decades-long downward trend. Less than 90 members of the new Congress will have served in the military, which is the lowest figure in recent years. During the 1970s, at least 70 percent of lawmakers had served in the military, according to the Pew Research Center. Today, that number is less than 20 percent. There are still eight Congressional races that have yet to declare a winner.

PDBR Review of Disability Claims Continues
The Physical Disability Board of Review was created by an FRA-supported provision in the FY2008 Defense Authorization Act that reassess the accuracy and fairness of combined disability ratings of 20 percent or less for service members who were separated from service, rather than medically retired because of medical conditions. 

To be eligible for a PDBR review, service members must have been medically separated between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2009, with a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less and found ineligible for retirement. According to Military.com only 19,000 of the more than 71,000 eligible have requested a review of their claim. The PDBR claims that more than half of the reviewed claims have been upgraded to a disability rating of 30 percent or more. 

The review panel is authorized to recommend an increase in a disability rating, uphold the previous finding or issue a disability rating when the previous board did not assign one. The board, however, is not able to recommend a lower rating. Eligible veterans can request a board review by submitting a Department of Defense Form 294, Application for Review of Physical Disability Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States, https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Conditions-and-Treatments/Physical-Disability/Disability-Evaluation/Physical-Disability-Board-of-Review/PDBR-Application-Process. 

Veterans requesting a review must mail their completed and signed DD Form 294 to SAF/MRBR, 550 C St. W., Suite 41, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4743. Applicants may submit statements, briefs, medical records or affidavits supporting their application. 

For more information about the PDBR go to, https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Conditions-and-Treatments/Physical-Disability/Disability-Evaluation/Physical-Disability-Board-of-Review. 

Dark Art of Democracy
Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution requires that all Congressional districts must be re-drawn this year. Based on the 2020 census results, the Census Bureau determines how many congressional districts will be allocated to each state. This apportionment is delivered to the president, who delivers it to the Clerk of the House, who then sends it to the governor of each state. Based on current data, Alabama, California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia will probably lose one Congressional seat. Florida will pick up two seats and Texas will gain three congressional seats starting in 2022. Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Montana, and Virginia are expected to gain one seat. 

In most cases, the state legislature draws the map for congressional districts, and it must be approved by the governor. Every candidate for a House seat in 2022 will be running in a new district, except for states with just one district. How these districts are drawn can influence election results. Re-drawing Congressional district boundaries tends to be a highly partisan activity. 

Though various laws and court decisions have put constraints on redistricting, many redistricting institutions continue to practice gerrymandering, which involves drawing new districts with the intention of giving a political advantage to one political party over the other. If one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the Governorship (known as a trifecta) they can draw boundary lines that are highly favorable for their party. Based on election results from 2020 the Republicans have a “trifecta” in 23 states and the Democrats have the trifecta in 15 states. That is why re-districting is sometimes called The Dark Art of Democracy.

FEATURE  STORY

Fleet Air Wing 7
A Temporary Force that Made a Lasting Impression

By Elise M. Howard

In June 1943, a primarily Irish construction team looked out over the completed military base they had spent the past year building. They could only hope that this rapidly assembled airfield outside the quiet country village of Dunkeswell in Devon, England, would help turn the tide of the Battle of the Atlantic. Thanks to German U-boats prowling the Atlantic sea-lanes, Britons were short on everything except carrots, it seemed. In the past six months alone, over 1 million tons of desperately needed supplies had met a futile end at sea.

However, the Royal Air Force was stretched thin and did not have aircraft available with the range needed for anti-submarine patrols in the Bay of Biscay to the south. Furthermore, the previous year the Germans had developed Metox, a device that could detect the long-wave metric radar used by British patrol craft. Fortunately, American B-24s — or PB4Y-1s, as the Navy had designated them — had an extraordinary range of 2,850 miles and used centimetric radar, undetectable by Metox. Thus, the U.S. agreed to temporarily provide Consolidated B-24 Liberators and their aircrews to support the Royal Air Force’s Coastal Command at Dunkeswell Airfield. 

Americans Arrive at Dunkeswell
The Army’s 479th Anti-Submarine Group arrived at Dunkeswell Aug. 6, 1943. They were replaced by the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Air Wing 7 in September 1943, however, after changes in Washington shifted the responsibility for anti-submarine warfare from the Army to the Navy. 

“When the Americans came, it was … like in the playground, you had a big brother come to look after you or something. You felt more secure after they come,” Dunkeswell resident Peter Clist recalled in an interview for the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s Dunkeswell War Stories project. “The whole atmosphere in the village was different. … I think people were on the point of giving up in 1942.”

Upon arrival, the American sailors discovered that the “finished” airfield was not, in fact, complete. Several off-runway facilities were missing or under construction, and some of the “roads” were simply well-worn paths that could not support heavy equipment and became mud pits in the damp climate. Additionally, although the Royal Air Force had agreed to operate the base facilities and maintain the Liberators, serious shortages of food, equipment and skilled personnel made it impossible for the RAF to adequately meet these obligations. The Navy therefore brought in additional supplies and personnel, eventually taking over base operations entirely in 1944. This made Naval Air Facility Dunkeswell the only American base in Britain during WWII.

A Typical Day at Dunkeswell
Navy life at Dunkeswell typically followed a predictable three- or four-day routine. On the first day, the crews would prepare their aircraft, and the next day, they would fly their assigned missions. The third day they had off to rest, possibly followed by a day of training. Groups were rotated so that patrols were in the air daily.
On their mission days, aircrews woke up around 4 a.m. and were driven from the barracks to the mess hall for breakfast. There they also picked up prepacked lunches before proceeding to the Operations Block for a flight briefing. This briefing typically included the patrol flight pattern for the day, a weather report, recent enemy activity, and intelligence on U-boat and Luftwaffe movements secretly obtained by British code-breakers at Bletchley Park.
 
After checking out all necessary equipment, Liberator crews took to the air to fly a repetitive patrol grid for an often monotonous 10 or more hours. The teams scanned for U-boats with radar, listened for them through sonobuoys and looked for them with binoculars, hoping for the opportunity to release their 8,000 pounds of ordnance, including depth charges, torpedoes and the still secret “Zombie” homing torpedoes. 

“There were 10 crewmen on the B-24 and three of us were radiomen, and we alternated between radio and radar and resting,” Bombing Squadron 114 radioman Jerry Brotherson explained for the Dunkeswell War Stories project. “The radioman did very little but listen for a signal, which we very seldom got, and then the radar was just sitting in the other corner of the flight deck looking at something like a round television screen.”

Although the PB4Y-1 had 10 .50-caliber machine guns with which to defend itself, the large aircraft patrolling alone made an easy target for German fighter planes. In response to rising U-boat losses in 1943, Germany began to send attack groups of six to 12 Junkers Ju-88C fighters to hunt down Liberators in the Bay of Biscay. Over the course of the war, Fleet Air Wing 7 lost 23 Liberators and 178 sailors. But as the war dragged on and took its toll on the Luftwaffe, German fighters became a less and less frequent sight in the skies over Europe.

In addition to the mental and emotional exhaustion produced by hours of vigilant searching and the ever-present fear of Ju-88s, the Liberator was physically exhausting to fly. 

“The controls are very mushy on a B-24,” said B-24 pilot John McManus in an interview for Timeless Media Group’s documentary “Warbirds of WWII.” “In tight formation, you’re constantly moving throttles and the rudders and the ailerons all the time, just continually moving everything. It was hard work! We worked 15 minutes apiece, the two pilots, and after 15 minutes, you were ready for a rest.”

Fellow B-24 pilot Bill Foster explained for “Warbirds of WWII” that “flying formation was real heavy on the rudders. We all got what they call ‘B-24 knees,’ especially at altitude.”

Well-Deserved Days Off
Needless to say, when the crews returned from their missions, they were ready for their day of rest. In their free time at the Dunkeswell village bar and other local establishments, many of the sailors developed close bonds with the British civilians. They treated local kids to their rations of candy and chewing gum, visited sweethearts they had met at base dances, and invited local families to movie nights, live boxing matches and other events on base. Annette Hart, who was a child at the time, recalled in an interview for the Dunkeswell War Stories project how one homesick sailor visited often and became deeply involved in the family.

“I didn’t have any shoes; I think my mum tried to make me a little pair of slipper things out of rabbit skins,” she said. “But he said, ‘You’ve got to have some shoes.’ I can remember him taking me to Honiton (a nearby town) and buying me a pair of little red shoes.”

Malcolm Stevens, also a child in Dunkeswell during WWII, recalled with a smile the special bond he had with some Navy officers.

“Two of the American officers would come down and pick me up in their Jeep and give me a hat to put on, an American hat, and then we could drive around and visit the guards,” he said in an interview for the Dunkeswell War Stories project. “They called me ‘Sergeant Stevens.’”

A particularly fond memory for many who were children at the time is the Christmas party hosted at the base each year. All the Dunkeswell children were treated to an American Christmas dinner, complete with turkey and the ever-baffling cranberry sauce, and given gifts that the sailors had made themselves. Doll-size wooden tables and chairs, toy torpedo boats, monkeys on a stick, and tiny dolls helped make Christmas special for children living through austere rationing, “Make Do and Mend” hand-me-downs and empty chairs at the holiday dinner table.
	
Turning the Tide of a Six-Year Battle
Fleet Air Wing 7’s presence in the Bay of Biscay helped shift the advantage in the Battle of the Atlantic. During their nearly two years at Dunkeswell, these intrepid sailors discovered and attacked 65 U-boats, sinking seven of them and damaging another 11. Prior to Dunkeswell Airfield’s completion in June 1943, Allied merchant ship losses ranged from 27 to 82 ships per month in 1943. Fleet Air Wing 7 arrived in September 1943, and after October, merchant ship losses in the Atlantic would never again exceed seven per month. Of course, Fleet Air Wing 7 served as just one component of the Allies’ larger anti-submarine campaign, which found success in new radar, ship-tracking and navigational technologies; improved convoy strategies; the invention of submarine-specific ordnance; the creation of escort craft; and relentless hours of Enigma and Tunny machine code-breaking.
Following V-E Day, Fleet Air Wing 7 accepted the surrender of five nearby U-boats. Some of the Liberators at Dunkeswell were flown back to the U.S. and promptly mothballed; others were scrapped on the airfield by Seabees. But one thing that outlasted the Liberators, the U-boats and even the base was the deep connection forged between the people of Dunkeswell and the American sailors who served there. That homesick sailor who bought shoes for little Annette Hart? He came back years later.
“He came to the front door, and he stood there and he cried,” Hart recounted with tears in her eyes. “He'd carried those two photographs with him, right from 1945, of this little cottage, which gave him so much pleasure while he was away, and us three scruffy children sat (down) with him.”         

FEATURE

USS BOWFIN (SS-287)
“The Pearl Harbor Avenger” Returns to Hawaii to Stay

By Ann Norvell Gray

The desire to put effective military operations underwater has motivated peoples and nations for centuries. This is not surprising, since the waters that cover the earth have always been the passages connecting people from where they are to where they want to go — complicated, of course, by who they have to get by to get there. Early in the 17th century, a Dutch engineer working for England’s King James I presented a craft propelled by six oars that could carry 16 passengers, cruise 4 to 5 meters deep and stay submerged for three hours, creating oxygen by heating saltpeter. It was, however, propelled only by the oarsmen and not by any oxygen-grabbing or cabin-fouling engine.
In the 1860s, an Italian designer developed a double-hulled wooden underwater craft and invented an air-independent power system, which used a chemical process to drive the screw while releasing oxygen into the hull for the crew and the auxiliary steam engine. Decades later, it was the havoc wreaked by deadly German U-boats during the First World War inspired American improvements in undersea engineering, resulting in the Gato-class and Balao-class submarines that proved instrumental in turning the tide of the Second World War’s Pacific theater. 

USS BOWFIN Serves
Enter the USS BOWFIN (SS-287), one of these Balao-class fleet attack submarines, which was laid down in Maine in 1942. It launched on Dec. 7, 1942, the first anniversary of the “date which will live in infamy,” as President Franklin D. Roosevelt had declared it, with the nickname “The Pearl Harbor Avenger.” So there is a satisfying symmetry to the ship’s meticulous renovation and current berth in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where it now serves as a museum. It is part of the larger group that includes the USS ARIZONA, perhaps the harbor’s most widely known memorial, and has more visitors than any other submarine museum in the world.
The USS BOWFIN completed nine war patrols between August of 1943 and July of 1945. Its first was conducted secretly and focused primarily on the resupply and rescue of guerrilla fighters throughout the Pacific, many of whom had escaped from Japanese prisoner of war camps. In a memo now preserved by the Naval History and Heritage Command, the Navy’s 7th Fleet Intelligence Center described these missions this way:
 “Early in 1942, the few Americans who escaped Prisoner of War or Internment Camps hid in remote parts of the Philippine Archipelago where there was no rapid dependable means of sending our forces any information they might get. Accordingly, it was decided to test the feasibility of making landings by submarine, (to) supply small communication and coast watcher units in the Philippines. … At about 5-week intervals, small parties of personnel with about 2 tons of stores each were landed at various points in the central and southern Philippines by special submarine missions carried out during their regular war patrols.”
BOWFIN’s ninth and last patrol took it in a group of nine submarines called “Hydeman’s Hellcats” on another secret mission. In wolf packs of three, they sailed from Guam, using a new sonar system to negotiate a minefield from the East China Sea into the treacherous Sea of Japan. After a successful run up the eastern coast of Korea, BOWFIN and seven of the other eight made a fast run for it on the surface. They made it out of “the Emperor’s Backyard,” passing north of Hokkaido, and home to Pearl Harbor. Of the nine, USS BONEFISH (SS-223) was the only one of the “Hellcats” that did not return. 
By the end of the war, in addition to its supply and rescue operations, BOWFIN had rid the Pacific of four passenger-cargo ships, one captured French cargo ship, one tanker, two schooners, seven cargo ships, one frigate and one auxiliary patrol boat. After V-J Day, it was recommissioned twice as a training ship before being struck from the Navy’s list.

Life After Decommissioning 
The Naval History and Heritage Command is charged with collecting and conserving the artifacts and records of decommissioned vessels’ histories. Ten museums fall under the direct control of the command, but the preservation of ships like the USS BOWFIN after their functional value to the Navy ends is driven purely by the dedication of individuals and the private entities they create and nurture.
BOWFIN’s progress toward its role as a museum ship began in 1972 with a request to the secretary of the Navy from Adm. Bernard A. “Chick” Clarey, a WWII submariner and Pearl Harbor survivor, and Rear Adm. Paul L. Lacy that BOWFIN be acquired for this purpose. A 1956 act of Congress authorized such transfers by the secretary of the Navy to appropriate nonprofits who covenanted to restore and maintain obsolete U.S. Navy vessels. Thus, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association was formed as such a nonprofit, and by August of 1979, the venerable USS BOWFIN was theirs.
The deteriorating veteran ship was moved to Pearl Harbor, meticulously and lovingly restored, and outfitted for its new role as the centerpiece of what is now the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park. Since then, it has also had its turn as a movie star, playing the part of three different submarines in the TV miniseries “War and Remembrance,” based on James Michener’s WWII novel of the same name. It has also turned up in a number of other television productions, and in 2019, it appeared in the movie “Midway” as the USS NAUTILUS (SS-168).

Stepping Inside “The Pearl Harbor Avenger”
Today, the BOWFIN offers self-guided tours that include an audio guide. The gangway takes you up to the bow and onto the BOWFIN’s deck. From there, you can see immediately how long and slender it is, very like the Balao fish for whom its class is named. The interiors are entirely intact and utterly immaculate. Most visitors remark that they could not imagine serving in such close quarters or operating and maintaining the incredibly complex mechanical devices that predate the digital world. TripAdvisor reviews that reflect typical guest remarks include, “Had no idea (about) the inner workings of a sub. Fantastic!!” and, “Sleeping quarters where the torpedoes launch. Very brave men!” The brilliant, polished finish on every inch of brass in the forward torpedo room is a testament to the care with which this veteran is kept shipshape.

Unique Outdoor Exhibits
At the water’s edge there is a simple, elegant Waterfront Memorial dedicated to the submarines and lives lost during World War II. Around the grounds, visitors can get a good look at the conning tower from the USS PARCHE (SS-384); the McCann rescue chamber that made enough trips to rescue all 33 surviving crewmen from the sunken USS SQUALUS (SS-192) in 1939; and a Regulus I nuclear-armed, turbojet-powered cruise missile from the Cold War years. But perhaps the most chilling piece of hardware on the grounds is a Japanese manned Kaiten torpedo, a big, fast, dangerous weapon with no escape hatch, from which no pilot ever tried to escape anyway.

A Growing Museum and Library
The museum has housed a modest collection of artifacts and memorabilia, including a collection of battle flags hung from its rafters and the ship’s bell from BOWFIN, which lay unnoticed in someone’s attic until it was unearthed and donated. When its ongoing renovation is complete later this year, there will be much more on offer, so keep an eye online for that. There is also an extensive research library, which includes submarine-related photographs, manuals, and monographs, as well as a nearly complete set of WWII submarine war patrol reports. 

Remembering Those Lost	
The Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association is responsible for the care of BOWFIN, the museum and the surrounding outdoor exhibits in the park, but it has done much more. On the museum’s sister website, http://www.OnEternalPatrol.com, the intention is to present a full memorial page to every American lost in the “silent service.” This is how the website describes their mission: “Since the acceptance of the first submarine into the U.S. Navy in 1900, over four thousand men have lost their lives in the Silent Service.  The great majority of them died in the period between December 7, 1941 and September 2, 1945.  … Submariners of all eras are included in the presentation.” Because of the diligence of their researchers, they are nearing their goal of putting a face to every name on the list. No visitor to this site can help but be moved by its commitment and dignity.

Visiting the BOWFIN
Due to changing local health conditions and safety requirements, if you have the good luck to be in Honolulu and want to visit the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, you should look over their website and Facebook page or call the museum directly to find out what you can see and what is expected of you. As FRAtoday goes to press, a major renovation and expansion of the facilities is being completed. Construction is done, and the installation of exhibits has begun, after which there will be much more to see and do. 
In its most recent update, the management reported that “We are currently on track for a soft opening of our museum in mid to late January and a grand reopening in February – March. We will keep you updated as we progress through the installation process so stay tuned!” In the meantime, you can take a virtual tour of what is available online. There is much to see and learn about the vessels of the “silent service” and those who have served ever since the first U.S. Navy diving ship headed down into the briny deep.

Return to Table of Contents

MEMBERHSIP MATTERS

What is the FRA All About?

Have you ever found yourself confronted by the question, “What is the FRA about?”  Perhaps you were chatting with friends or maybe you had met other retirees or veterans at a public event?  In any case, we thought it would be handy to equip Shipmates with a simple description of the FRA’s mission and the activities that happen so the next time you’re in that situation, you are better prepared to answer that simple question.

The Fleet Reserve Association is an advocacy group. Nationally, the FRA’s primary mission is to represent the interests of Shipmates on Capitol Hill during the lawmaking processes that govern our nation.  The membership dues and donations raised for the FRA are used to deliver persuading messages to lawmakers on the behalf of our members and their families to ensure that the hard-earned privileges and benefits of service are preserved and expanded, rather than stripped down or canceled entirely.  

To complete this mission, the FRA stays abreast of political and policy making discussions in and around Washington, D.C., and weighs in whenever possible. Throughout the nearly 100 years of the FRA’s existence, we have scored many victories on behalf of Shipmates. Some of the most notable include supporting the TRICARE for Life initiative, protecting military retirement benefits and securing pay increases for career enlisted personnel.  

The FRA engages its membership through a network of branches, committees and leadership opportunities. Once a year, the association’s leaders meet for a national convention to review association business, including legislative priorities, improvements and amendments to the national bylaws, and the selection and installation of new personnel into key roles.  Through these efforts and the combined experience of hundreds of volunteers, the FRA pursues a vigorous agenda of legislative priorities. During the 116th Congress, which ran from January 2019 to January 2021, the FRA recorded at least 21 specific achievements in the interests of branch-affiliated Shipmates and Members-at-Large.  

The most powerful tool Shipmates have is the FRA Action Center.  During that same period, more than 73,000 emails were sent to elected representatives and other key personnel using the Action Center. The FRA’s national headquarters staff use this information to focus their efforts on the messages that are of greatest importance to Shipmates and their families. Shipmates can send as many messages as they want at no cost, so it is a great way to ensure voices are heard.  

Whether Shipmates served at sea or on land, they share a bond common to all the sea services — the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard — in that they learned to live and work in close quarters, where teamwork and a strict commitment to precision and discipline were of particular importance. The FRA’s national headquarters sees these traits borne out every day in its interactions with Shipmates and other constituents. We are proud to pursue their needs and priorities on their behalf.       FRA
Yours in Loyalty, Protection and Service,
Christina Hitchcock

Christina is the FRA’s director of membership. She can be reached at ChristinaH@fra.org or 703-683-1400, ext. 123.   
Shipmate News

1. Branch 226, Staten Island, N.Y.
On Nov. 16, 2020, a plaque was presented to Marine Science Technician 2nd Class Abigail Caudill, who was selected as the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York Enlisted Person for the third quarter. (L to R) Command Master Chief Robert Riemer, FRA Branch 226 President James Brown, MST2 Abigail Caudill and Chief Petty Officers Association President Senior Chief Petty Officer Chris Martinez.

2. Branch 316, Springfield, Mo.
Shipmates of Ozark Empire Branch attended the 6th Annual Veterans Ball that was put on by the Student Veterans of Springfield, to honor the heroes of the Vietnam War. (L to R) Nolon Moody, Bernie Daum, Branch President Tom Newsom, Chuck Duff, Hugh Mills, RVPNC Maria Behm, Robert Behm and Branch Secretary Chuck Ewy.

3. Branch 208, Jacksonville, N.C.
Camp Lejeune Branch Shipmate Tim Manchester and his wife Jennifer are proud to announce their daughter Brittany has joined the United States Air Force and began her Basic Military Training in late 2020.  

4. Branch 40, CHESAPEAKE, VA.
FRA National Vice President Jim Campbell and LA FRA National President Jackie Scarbro placed a memorial wreath to honor the fallen at the Flag Retirement Ceremony held at the branch home. Boy Scout Troop 16 of Suffolk, Virginia, also participated in the ceremonies.

5. Branch 230, Roseville, CAlif.
A plaque recognizing his long and dedicated service to the FRA was presented to Shipmate Elmer Frank at his home. (L to R) Branch Secretary Jerry McColley, Branch Chaplain Harold Hayek, Elmer Frank, Branch President Don Goard and Mary Ann Frank. 

6. Branch 161, Kansas City, Kan.
Mo-Kan Branch delivered turkeys to several group homes in the Greater Kansas City area. This photo was taken at Every Child’s Hope, a transition home for youth.  (L to R) Tony Quintero, a facility assistant, Director of the Kansas City Steppingstone program Lynn Durbin, PRPNC Norm Combs, Honorary Branch Member Debbie Palmer and RPNC Jerry Lickteig.

7. Branch 98, Shreveport, La.
Shipmates attended the unveiling of the Women Veteran Monument on Veterans Day in Bossier City, Louisiana. (L to R) PRPSC Emmett Smith, Branch President Willie Hill, RPSC C. Ursula Gruetzner and Bill Davis. 

8. Branch 29, Bremerton, Wash.
Shipmate Larry Daley burned worn American flags during an official flag retirement ceremony that was held in Bremerton to honor Flag Day on June 14, 2020.

9. Branch & Unit 382, Nampa, Idaho
FRA Branch President and RPNW Danny Hunt and LA FRA Unit President Rose Hall (wearing their covers) were presented with a donation check from the GFWC Woman’s Century Club of Nampa on Nov. 23, 2020. Both were guest speakers at the Century Club luncheon.

10. Branch 14, Milwaukee, Wis.
Branch President Marcia Cunningham helped decorate the Navy tree in a challenge for the branches on Nov. 21, 2020, at the War Memorial. Center. (L to R) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Aircraft Handling Chief Select Joshua Waraczynski, Marcia Cunningham and Logistics Specialist Chief Select Phillip Balistreri. Navy won second place.

11. Branch 208, Jacksonville, N.C.
Branch President Raymond Applewhite presented a certificate of Outstanding Achievement in the Americanism Essay Contest to Madisson Templeton, who was the second place winner for the East Coast Region. She was presented a $50 gift certificate. 

12. Branch 161, Kansas City, Kan.
The Mo-Kan Branch holds their Annual Gift Wrap each year. Several Shipmates gather each year to wrap and deliver Christmas gifts to several group homes in the area. This year was different because masks were worn and social distancing was practiced during the wrapping sessions.

TAPS
Name	Rating	Branch
Abraham, Richard	PNC, USN	93
Akkerman, Daryl J.	NCC, USN	29
Arflack, James D.	AMCS, USN	261

Ballard, Charles D.	STG1, USN	MAL
Barnett, Robert R.	USN	29
Bassi, Charles L.	PHCM, USN	MAL
Bennet Billy	MMC, USN	89
Bentien Dorothy E.	YNC, USN	MAL
Bishop, Robert D.	CMDCM(SW), USN	162
Bisson, Melvin L.	AMS1, USN	136
Bostedt, Gerald D.	MRCM, USN	14
Bowab, George P.	MMC, USN	72
Brantley, Charles T.	MRC, USN	194
Broderick, Michael J.	PS1, USCG	MAL
Buettner, Clayton L.	GMGC, USN	14
Butler, Raymond L.	RMC, USN	289

Casey, Robert	QMCM, USN	MAL
Comeau, George	CWO3, USN	40
Courtney, Thomas D.	IC3, USN	MAL
Covey, Paul A.	RMC, USN	MAL

Daniel, Charles W.	CS1, USN	MAL
Davis, Roy O.	ET1, USN	MAL
Dill, Walter H.	CWO4, USN	22
Dimick, Robert	LCDR, USN	MAL
Downs, Lee B.	NC1, USN	11

Eason, Franklin D.	RMCS, USN	187
England, Albert A.	GYSGT, USMC	MAL
Estes, Fletcher L.	PO1, USN	MAL

Feddersen, Vernon C.	AMSC, USN	MAL
Feltz, Roger H.	OMC, USN	MAL
Fernandez, Emmanuel S.	SKCS, USN	MAL
Fretwell, Richard A.	GMTCS, USN	MAL
Frost, Sergio M.	EMCM(SS), USN	289
Fry, Charles F.	PNCM, USN	115

Ganey, Walter F.	CWO4, USN	166
Gardner, Billy J.	SM1, USN	MAL
Goettlicher, Gary R.	ADRC, USN	273
Gunther, William C.	YNC(SS), USN	60

Hallowell, Richard C.	OSC, USN	MAL
Hardy, Edward J.	SKCM, USN	MAL
Harriger, Robert J.	SKC/CPO, USN	MAL
Hayes, Robert E.	LNC, USN	73
Hedren, Carl L.	SHC, USN	302
Hennessey, Michael J.	PO1, USA	MAL
Herbein, John G.	CAPT, USN	MAL
Hester, Robert Z.	ENC(SS), USN	259
Hindel, James	AT1, USN	269
Hines, Kenneth F.	LCDR, USN	90
Howard, John A.	EMCS, USN	20
Hugo, Demetrio S.	MS2, USN	127
Humphrey, Billy L.	SCPO, USN	MAL
Husby, Paul W.	ETC, USNR	276

Ireland, Francis D.	AQC, USN	261

Jenkins, Gordon K.	ADCS, USN	289
Jones, John M.	CTICS, USN	301

Keen, Huey E.	PNC, USN	MAL
Kessler, Theodore J.	TDC, USN	MAL
PNP Kilgore, Mark A.	RPCM(SW), USN	22
King, William B.	SCPO, USN	34
Kovach, Stephen K.	SCPO, USN	MAL
Kraemer, Orval L.	BTC, USN	377
Kyser, Larry O.	ABE3, USN	22

Lauraitis, Thomas	AWC, USN	MAL
Leaf, Carl S.	ASCS, USN	104
Lopeman, Michael	ICC(SS), USN	20

Maddox, Jackie K.	AWC, USN	86
Marquardt, Robert	ACC, USN	MAL
Martin, Daniel L.	BTCS(SW), USN	MAL
Martin, Charles E.	ETCM(SS), USN	MAL
Martinez, Esperison	CMSGT, USN	24
May, Brian	FTC, USNR	MAL
McConnell, James T.	LT, USN	118
McDonough, William J.	AWCS, USN	156
McMillen, Kenneth V.	LCDR, USN	MAL
Meisner, Maurice E.	AD3, USN	263
Melson, Robert A.	PRPNC, USNR	130
Miles, Lavor J.	MMC, USN	MAL
Minas, Jose V.	SD1, USN	84
Moffett, Carl L.	LT, USN	24

Nagle, John J.	A01, USN	MAL
Neal, Paul J.	FTGC, USN	MAL
Nielsen, Burdette G.	PO2, USN	364
Null, Christopher	OMC, USN	290

O’Rawe, John	MMCS(SS), USN	MAL
Odom, Gregg V.	ADCS, USN	289
Olsen, George E.	GYSGT, USMC	136

Pagnotta, Austin M.	DCCM, USCGR	38
Patterson, Perry S.	CDR, USN	MAL
Payne, Gordon E.	EN1, USN	MAL
Peck, David T.	MTC, USN	37
Pedroni, John J.	TMC(SS), USN	60
Pester, Fred J.	ENC, USN	136
Phelps, George R.	PHCS, USN	MAL
Pietrowski, Joseph A.	MMCS, USN	MAL
Pinson, Harold E.	PN1, USN	382
Pugh, Larry J.	BM1, USN	186

Rauch, Carl C.	HM1, USN	57
Risher, Barth A.	HMC, USN	MAL

Sansone, Joseph	RADM(SC), USN	MAL
Schaub, Leroy R.	AEC, USN	91
Schneider, Joseph J.	PN3, USN	214
Selleck, Maynard L.	EMCM, USN	290
Senior, Robert T.	HMC(SW), USN	01
Shuler, Gary R.	QM1, USN	106
Stithem, Charles K.	BMCM, USN	29
Sullivan, Gerald W.	EMC, USN	185
Sutton, John N.	CWO, USN	60
Sutton, William H.	STC, USN	MAL

Taguba, Rustico C.	DTC, USN	MAL
Taylor, Levon M.	HM3, USN	161
Thompson, Allen L.	YNC, USN	161
Thorp, Albert W.	MMCS(SW), USN	298
Tiernay, Terry W.	CDR, USN	274
Tregoning, John H.	ENCS (SS), USN	53
Troutman, Thomas A.	CPO(UTC), USN	MAL
Tucker, David S.	SA, USNR	290

Valere, Alexander F.	CSCS, USN	01
Vertrees, Gerald J.	AFCM, USN	90

Wappler, John F.	CTM1, USN	22
White, Edward R.	YNCM(SS), USN	291
Whitt, Gerald E.	ATC, USN	89
Whitten, James	CPO, USN	70
Wilson, Thomas	RMC, USN	40
Wolohan, Michael P.	AK1(AW), USN	67
Woods, Ernest C.	END3(SS), USN	275
Worth, Richard W.	UTC, USN	307

Zebratski, John J.	CWO2, USN	MAL
Zuber, Robert A.	EMC, USN	115

Return to Table of Contents

A Message from the Southeast Regional President

Happy Valentine’s Day!
It is truly an honor to serve a second term as the LA FRA regional president for the Southeast Region. The Southeast Region does their best to perform charitable work for military service members, their families, the community and our America veterans. COVID-19 has really put a restriction on what we can do, but we are managing to deal with the circumstances.

During the holidays, units participated in holiday parades, prepared food baskets for the needy, helped fill shoe boxes with gifts for Operation Christmas Child, wrote Christmas cards for our military members overseas and were very involved with Toys for Tots. One of our units did a drive-by Toys for Toys campaign, which benefited children on Christmas. We also sent care packages filled with goodies and coupons for the families to use on base.
  Each year, our units also work with their branches and attend veteran events. One of the things we do is place flags or wreaths at the graves of our veterans.

Our region also has various fundraising events that include, but are not limited to, yard sales, bake sales, car washes, auctions and 50/50 raffles. 

To help increase the number of our members, we advertise, make telephone calls and are always sure to have membership applications in our possession. We could not make this happen without all our units. 

The 12 units in our region are: 
•	Unit 22 - Pensacola, Florida 
•	Unit 91 - Jacksonville, Florida
•	Unit 102 - St. Petersburg, Florida 
•	Unit 126 - W. Jacksonville, Florida                                                                
•	Unit 183 - Interlachen, Florida 
•	Unit 194 - Knoxville, Tennessee		
•	Unit 210 - Milton, Florida 
•	Unit 269 - Goose Creek, South Carolina 
•	Unit 290 - Atlantic Beach, Florida 
•	Unit 291 - New Port Richey, Florida 
•	Unit 294 - Crossville, Tennessee
•	Unit 346 – Panama City Beach, Florida
 The Southeast Regional Convention will be held in Jacksonville, Florida, this year at the Ramada by Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel and Conference Center from Aug. 23 to 27. 

The Southeast Region’s members are proud to serve our auxiliary and country in any way that we can.   FRA
In Loyalty, Protection and Service, 
Gale Nathan 

Gale is the LA FRA president of the Southeast Region.
FINANCE MATTERS

Managing Your Investments During Difficult Times
 
In recent times, a pandemic, economic difficulties, political unrest and natural disasters have all presented their respective challenges. Besides grappling with the near-term effects of these situations, investors may be wondering what effect these events could have on their investments. It’s helpful for investors to focus on three fundamental actions that could help them work toward meeting their investment goals — know yourself, build a plan and keep an eye on the long term.

Know Yourself 
When stocks drop by 20% or more, some investors might ignore the drop, others might feel the urge to sell, while still others might see it as a good time to buy. This range of reactions illustrates different levels of risk tolerance, or how sensitive investors are to market volatility. Risk tolerance varies from one investor to another, and no level of tolerance is considered the “right” level — there’s only the right risk tolerance for each investor. Talking with financial advisors or completing online questionnaires can help investors determine their risk tolerance.
While understanding your risk tolerance is essential, it should not be considered in isolation. Risk tolerance, goals and time horizon all play a role in setting an investment plan. 
Investing more aggressively may yield more rewards, but the length of time available for investing also plays a part. A longer time horizon could give investors the potential for compound growth.   And setting specific goals can help to determine how much an investor should accumulate to support their goals.

Build a Plan 
Dwight D. Eisenhower may have said it best — “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” Even though a plan may need to be modified to adapt to changes, the very process of setting a plan will help investors to discover and focus on their most important investment goals. 
For a plan to be useful, it’s important for investors to clearly detail which goals they are trying to achieve. Some of an investor’s goals will be shorter term, such as building a rainy day fund. Intermediate-term goals might include buying a house or paying for a child’s education. Longer-term goals might include planning for retirement and potentially leaving a legacy for charities or family. Investors’ assets can then be matched to those various goals. For example, an investor might own short-term bonds to meet a near-term expense, and a mixture of stocks and longer-term bonds to meet needs that are further in the future. The investor’s risk tolerance will help determine the ratio of more volatile assets, such as stocks, to less volatile assets such as bonds.

Keep an Eye on the Long Term 
Once a plan is in place, it’s important to maintain it over the long term. This process includes regularly rebalancing the portfolio if allocations move too far away from targets, a task that in many cases can be automated. Maintenance also includes revisiting plans as investor goals or situations change. A plan is meant to be a living document. 
While market drops can be troublesome, unpredictable economic events have presented challenges in the past. With resilience and creativity, America’s businesses and households have managed to overcome them. While there are no guarantees that past performance will repeat itself, history has shown us that investors who reach their goals are often those who stick to their investment plans and take a long-term view of the markets.   

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.
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