Luncheon18 January 2018

Social Hour: 11:00 AMLuncheon: 11:45 AM

Luncheon is $26.00See Back Page for Reservations

Form and Directions

Silicon Valley ChapterMilitary Officers Association of America

The BulletinVolume X Issue 1 January 2018

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 4 Jan Board Meeting 10:30 AM 18 Jan Luncheon 11:00 AM 1 Feb Board Meeting 10:30 AM 15 Feb Luncheon 11:00 AM

JANUARY LUNCHEON SPEAKER-571 is a 2000 French-Americanwar film directed by Jonathan

Mostow and starring MatthewMcConaughey and Bill Paxton. In the film,a World War II German submarine isboarded in 1942 by disguised United StatesNavy submariners seeking to capture herEnigma cipher machine. It’s quite a storyand near the end the crew abandons thesubmarine with the Enigma in theirpossession. The crew members watch U-571 as she slips beneath the waves.Floating aboard an inflatable lifeboat, theyare eventually rescued by a US Navy PBYCatalina flying boat.

An Enigma machine was a series ofelectro-mechanical rotor cipher machinesdeveloped and used in the early to mid-twentieth century for commercial andmilitary usage. The chapter’s January 2018luncheon speaker will be Mr. RalphSimpson, a computer industry veteran whoworked for 32 years at IBM and CiscoSystems. He is now retired and volunteersat a local history museum. He will providean overview of this piece of spookhardware invented by a German and usedby Allied codebreakers as a way of

Cont'd pg 3

Mr. Ralph SimpsonThe Enigma Machine

U

U571 and a mission accomplished…

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PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

The Board joins me in wishing each and all a MerryChristmas and Happy New Year.

At our December 21 luncheon the 2018 Board wassworn in: I was sworn in as president; LCDR J.C. Burns,USN, 1st Vice President; CDR Clyde Bingham, USN (RET), 2nd

Vice President; CAPT Keith Ott, USN (RET), Treasurer; COLWarren Enos, USA (RET), Secretary; and CAPT Gil Borgardt,USNR (RET), Immediate Past President.

I want to thank CAPT Borgardt for his outstandingleadership in 2016-2017.

I look forward to working with him along with the Board ofDirectors and Committee Chairs.

Membership Committee Chair CWO5 Bob Landgrafreported that the Chapter brought aboard twelve newmembers in 2017. We have a current membership of 137.That is outstanding considering many groups in the BayArea have a tough time staying operational because ofdeclining membership.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Januarylunch meeting.

Chuck

OFFICERS, BOARD, AND CHAIRSPRESIDENT:Cpt Charles McDougald USA415-722-10091st VP: LDCR J.C. Burns USN650-637-77422nd VP: CDR Clyde Bingham USN408-360-8816Secretary: COL Warren Enos AUS408-245-2217Treasurer: CAPT Keith Ott USN530-219-2404Past President: CAPT Gil Borgardt USN650-342-1270

DIRECTORS & COMMITTEE CHAIRSCALMOAA CAPT Gil Borgardt USN 650-342-1270Chaplain Col Don Bradley USAF 650-592-0915Chapter Outreach CWO5 Robert Landgraf USMC 408-323-8838Commissary/Exchange Advisory CDR Ralph Hunt USN 650-967-8467Friends-in-Need (FIN) Program CDR Al Mouns USN 408-257-5629Navy League Liaison LCDR Tom Winant USN 650-678-7120Membership/Recruitment CDR Clyde Bingham USMC 408-360-8816Personal Affairs CAPT Robert French USN 650-363-1188Programs CDR Ralph Hunt USN 650-967-8467 ROTC CWO4 Patrick Clark USA 831-402-8548Surviving Spouse Liason LtCol Charlene Lee USA 510-427-7145Scholarship LtCol Charles Curran USAF 415-706-2353 Capt Gio Picazo USAF 669-258-5057 CAPT Paul Barrish USN 408-356-7531Travel (Space-A Advisory) vacantVeteran Affairs LtCol Neil Miles USAF 408-929-1142Web Master LtCol Mike Sampognaro USAF 408-779-7389Sergeant at Arms Capt Chris Kachulis USAF 408-395-2853Strategic Planning Capt David Down ARNG 408-202-9360Legislation

The Chapter Board meets at the Moffett Air TrafficControl Tower, Moffett Federal Airfield

DIRECTORS EMERITUS LtCol. Jesse Craddock USAF 650-968-0446 CAPT Lloyd McBeth USN 408-241-3514

RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE (RAO)Bldg 587 on Wescoat Court, 650-603-8047

Bulletin EditorLtCol. Mike Sampognaro, USAFmike@sampognaro.net 408-779-7389

In Memorium

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Surviving Spouse LaVerne Halldied November 26, 2017

CAPT Attilio "Al" Serafini, Jr. USNMay 31, 1935 - December 8, 2017

see pg 10

CPT John Knight Jr. - USA5267 Broken Lance Court

San Jose, CA 95136

CAPT Glenn D. Hamilton, USN,October 6, 1929 - December 5, 2017

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Ralph Simpson likely has a lot of stories to tell,much like the U-571 adventure. In the midst ofWorld War II, the battle below the seas rages. TheNazis have the upper edge as the Allies are unableto crack their war codes. That is, until a wrecked U-boat sends out an SOS signal, and the Allies realizethis is their chance to seize the 'enigma codingmachine'. But masquerading as Nazis and takingover the U-boat is the smallest of their problems.The action really begins when they get stranded onthe U-boat.

Mr. Simpson notes, “The movie U-571 is afictionalized account of sailors boarding a U-boat toget the code books and Enigma machines. The codebooks were the most valuable part of that haul. Theactual U-boats boarded were the U-110 and U-559,both boarded by British, not American, sailors.”

Cryptanalysis of the Enigma enabled the westernAllies in World War II to read substantial amountsof secret Morse-coded radio communications of theAxis powers that had been enciphered using Enigmamachines. This yielded military intelligence which,along with that from other decrypted Axis radio andtele-printer transmissions, was given the

JANUARY LUNCHEON cont'ddeciphering German signals traffic during WW II,turning the tide in favor of the Allies. He wrote abook on cipher history called, Crypto Wars: 2000Years of Cipher Evolution.

According to Mr. Simpson, “The Enigma machinewas a cunning invention and major advance in ciphertechnology, which gave the Germans confidence inthe secrecy of their messages during World War II.This was a reasonable confidence but proved to bewrong and eventually fatal. The story of the Alliesconquering the overwhelming odds against breakingthe Nazi code is a story of ingenuity and intrigue.Alan Turing led the Allies efforts to breakthe Enigma, which significantly shortened the warand ushered in the age of computers.

“The success of cracking the Enigma was keptsecret for 29 years after the end of WW2, despite15,000 people working on the effort. This secrecy isespecially incredible for us living in the age of theinternet, WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden. Over35,000 Enigma machines were manufactured, butonly 350 are known to exist today. You will see oneof these rare machines and have a chance to type inyour own secret messages.”

An enigma is a person or thing that is mysterious,puzzling, or difficult to understand. Early machinemodels were used commercially from the early1920s, and adopted by military and governmentservices of several countries, most notably NaziGermany before and during World War II. Severaldifferent Enigma models were produced, but theGerman military models, having a plug board, werethe most complex. Japanese and Italian models werealso in use.

The enigma machine…

So many stories…

So much drama…

cont'd pg 4

JANUARY LUNCHEON cont'dcodename Ultra. This was considered by westernSupreme Allied Commander Dwight D.Eisenhower to have been decisive to the Alliedvictory.

Much more information and even an exampleabout how history is being rewritten is available atMr. Simpson’s website here http://ciphermachines.com/. The battle of wits between code makers andcodebreakers has been the driving force forinnovation in cipher technology for centuries.Every time the code makers invented the nextadvance in cipher technology, the codebreakerswould find an ingenious way to break that cipher.The website explores the technology of thesecrypto devices and the dramatic consequences ofcodebreaking to history.

Mr. Simpson is also an avid collector of ciphermachines, which you can see on his website,CipherHistory.com. Ralph lives in San Jose in arestored Victorian house, which is also home to hisCipher History Museum and a very understandingwife. They have three grown children._________________________SOURCE: Mr. Ralph Simpson

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DECEMBER SPEAKER REPORThapter members have often been interested inlearning about other parts of the world. They

find the different traditions, cultures, and foodsfascinating. Some have even been known to poreover maps while dreaming about being able to visiteach and every country. They’re sometimes quick totravel overseas, broaden their horizons, understandthe world better, engage more fully in a differentculture, and even learn a new language. Thechapter’s December armchair travel adventure madethat possible vicariously for more than 40 membersand guests.

The chapter’s December luncheon speaker wasCol Keith Giles, USAF-Ret, who provided what hasbecome a traditional Christmas season illustratedpresentation describing one of his many Europeancycling trips. During an August-September 2014barge/bicycle trip from Bruges. Belgium to Paris heand perhaps a dozen others traveled 308.4 miles over12 bike days at an average 25-27 miles per day.Apparently for the first time Keith was able to makeone of these trips using an electric-powered bicycle,“making it easy for me to go uphill.” Histravelogues are far from the norm; his commentary,images, and sense of humor are often extraordinary.On one occasion, for example, he took a photo of amen’s public restroom with windows, whichprovided full views of the interior.

The trip was soon underway aboard the barge“Feniks.” Keith described the waterway/canal, thevessel, his very tiny quarters/stateroom with upperand lower bunk below decks, shower and bath, andeven provided a photo of the cook. Just prior todeparture the group went on a test ride, in generallearning about routes and paths/trails, and wheneverything was in order/shipshape the group

Cont'd pg 5

Cypher History Museum…

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Next time go by bicycle…

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Compiegne in the region of Picardy, France,some 37 miles north of Paris, is notable as thesite of the Armistice between the Allies andGermany which ended WWI as well as theArmistice of June 22, 1940 after the Battle ofFrance in WWII. There were so many interestingsights and sounds: Roman ruins, John Calvin’sbirthplace, a 1941 Renault tank, a railroadpassenger car where the French surrendered toHitler, magnificent structures such as castles andchateaus, and even a machine gun emplacement.

Soon Keith and the others were entering theoutskirts of Paris with the Seine River, a replicaof the Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, and backside of Notre Dame in full view, with the bargemoving into one last canal and the end of theboat cruise, putting Keith and the others on theirown. He toured a Holocaust museum with namesof victims engraved on a wall, saw VictorHugo’s apartment, the Saint Denis Cathedral,and especially Pere Lachaise Cemetery, the firstmunicipal cemetery and the most visitedcemetery in the world. There are so manyfamous people buried there, including “Toi andMoi,” You and Me.

Keith’s interests extended to a visit to theParis sewers, a special interest of his, along withthe museum. The museum details the history ofthe sewers from their initial development byHugues Aubriot, provost of Paris in the late 14thcentury, to their modern structure, which wasdesigned in the 19th century by the engineerEugène Belgrand. The museum also details the

cont'd pg 6

departed. The first lunch ashore was in whatappeared to be a historic building with seating atpicnic tables. Since Keith, having been in the areabefore, could find his way around easily and sooneven located a youth hostel he visited more than 40years ago.

Riding in the rain and approaching theBelgian/French border, the group viewed World WarI monuments and soon gathered at lock #7 on thecanal with instructions to proceed to lock #5, easilyidentified because of its prominent lock controltower. It wasn’t long before the barge proceededthrough a 3 mile-long tunnel.

The group visited Peronne in northern France,close to where the Battles of the Somme took placeduring WWI, finding the Museum of the Great Warinteresting and educational, viewing militaryuniforms, combat service supportvehicles/ambulance, and much more. The Forest of

Lots of bikes, Bruges, Belgium…

Aboard “Feniks” and headed for Paris….

The Forest of Compiegne…

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role of sewer workers and methods of watertreatment. Nearing the end of this trip, Keithvisited Notre Dame Cathedral, widelyconsidered to be one of the finest examples ofFrench Gothic architecture.

Just prior to boarding a high speed train for areturn to Germany, one reaching 196 mph, andreturning the bicycle, Keith took a photo of asign nearby, “Mall Maintenance Shop; We CanRepair Anything; Knock Hard, The BellDoesn’t Work

_______________________________SOURCE: Col Keith Giles, USAF-Ret

Member’s CornerCHAPTER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

DM William H. McRaven, USN (RET), once Commander of all U.S. Special Forces

Operations and a 37-year Navy Seal, wrote that itwas in Seal training that he learned the value ofteamwork, the need to rely on someone else to helpyou through the difficult tasks. “For those of us whowere ‘tadpoles,’ he wrote hoping to become Navyfrogmen, a ten-foot rubber raft was used to teach usthis vital lesson. If you want to change the world,find someone to help you paddle.”

This is the second in a Member’s Corner series ofitems on the topic, “What does SVC MOAA do forits members?” Silicon Valley Chapter offers a widevariety of services for those times when life’svicissitudes, those changes of circumstances orfortune, typically those that are unwelcome orunpleasant, intrude and sometimes require major anddiverse responses.

Chapter members are often able to muster directexperience and assemble needed resources in time ofemergency, and those capabilities are offered to allmembers and their families. The website offers fullinformation about benefits so members can take fulladvantage of their chapter affiliation. See h"p://www.svcmoaa.org/.

Membership offers the opportunity to helpinfluence a positive national security policy; giveback to the local general and military communities;enjoy making acquaintances and friends and theassociated camaraderie, as well as networking at themonthly luncheon and other events;

cont'd pg 7

Exercise after a bike trip…

A

Navy Seals learn teamwork early…

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staying informed of local and national militaryissues, and in particular federal-state-locallegislation impacting earned entitlements.

Chapter officials make announcements aboutdetails of volunteer opportunities within thechapter and throughout the community,particularly VA facilities; there are opportunitiesto help fund and experience the joy of awardsceremonies of annual scholarships to local collegeand university junior and senior ROTC cadets andothers; family members, particularly the childrenof chapter members, are often eligible forscholarships; member recipient designateddonations to the chapter are processed witheffectiveness and efficiency and often result ingreat personal satisfaction.

When a member family crisis occurs, and ifinvited, chapter officials will bring a variety ofresources together in support of requirements. Nomember will be alone; a carefully created teamwill be made available to help bring aboutsuccessful outcomes._____________________________SOURCE: Membership Committee

Marine Corps JROTC UnitMARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL

hapter 2nd Vice President-MembershipCWO5 Robert Landgraf, USMC (RET),

was the Guest of Honor at the November 17th,2017 Campbell Unified High School District(CUHSD), Marine Corps Junior Reserve OfficersTraining Corps (JROTC) - Marine CorpsBirthday Ball, celebrating the 242nd Marine CorpsBirthday. The invitation was extended by MajorRichard Ruiz and GySgt Steven Mobley, onbehalf of the cadets, families, and guests ofBranham and Del Mar High Schools. These twoMarines are the instructors who manage theMarine Corps JROTC Program within theCUHSD.

The event was held for the first time, awayfrom the school campus and held at the ScottishRite Center in South San Jose. This event startedat 1800 hours, ending at 2200 hours. The eveningstarted with a traditional formal ceremony. Afterthe formal ceremonies, all were invited to join infor dinner, which was followed by dancing. Therewere over 120 in attendance who witnessed thistraditional Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Theformal activities included; 1) a team of JROTCCadets in their Dress Blues, presenting theNational Ensign and Marine Corps Flag, 2) ateam of sword carrying Cadets that brought forththe Birthday Cake, 3) the cake cutting ceremonyand the offering of a piece of the cake to theoldest and youngest Marine, 4) then, all standingfor the Marine Corps Hymn, followed by thetraditional reading of the Marine CorpsCommandant’s Message and, 5) finally the Guestof Honor’s speech.

“This is a celebration of the Marine Corpspast, present, and future and is celebratedannually all over the world by Marine Corpspersonnel and their families,” Landgraf said. “Itis a time to celebrate the Marine Corps richhistory and proud traditions as well as to enjoy apiece of the traditional birthday cake.”

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SVC first responder in emergencies…

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For all of those Submariners that havespent Christmas at sea:Twas the night before Christmas......On theboat (Written by IC2 (SS) Sean Keck)(RIP)'Twas the night before Christmas and what no-onecould see,the men with the Dolphins were under the sea.Most of the crew were flat on their backs.Snoring and dreaming all snug in their racks.Those men on watch were making their rounds,some manning the planes or listening for sounds.Back in maneuvering or down in the [Sonar ?]room,they all hoped the oncoming watch would comesoon.I'd finished some PM's [Planned Maintenance onvarious equipment] whose time was now due andhoped for some sleep, even an hour or two.Against better judgement, I took a short stroll,and found myself wandering into Control.The NAV[igator] had the Conn, the COW [Chiefof the Watch Section] was in place,the COB [Chief of the Boat] had the Dive and ascowl on his face.The helm and the planes were relaxed but aware,the [Watch Section[ QM and ET were discussing adare.To comply with the orders the NAV told the Dive[Officer], to bring the boat up with minimum rise.The orders were given and soon they were there,at periscope depth with a scope in the air.The QM confirmed our position with care,the [Fleet] broadcast was copied, we brought insome air.The NAV on the scope let out a small cry,he shook his head twice and rubbed at his eyes.He looked once again to find what it was,thatinterrupted his sweep and caused him to pause.Try as he might there was nothing to see,so down went the scope and us to the deep.I asked what it was that caused his dismay,he sheepishly said, "I'm embarrassed to say."It could have been Northern Lights or a cloud,or a meteorite he wondered aloud.But to tell you the truth I guess I must say,whatever it was it looked like a sleigh.And though it passed quickly and never was clear,I almost believe it was pulled by reindeer.

We laughed and teased him and I got up to go,when our moment was broken by "Conn, Radio."They told us a message was just coming in,we looked at the depth gauge and started to grin."Radio, Conn, I feel safe to say,your attempt at a joke is too far delayed.If it had been sooner it might have been neat,but I doubt we're receiving at four hundred feet.""Conn, Radio you can come down and see,we're not playing games to any degree."I headed aft with nothing better to do,surprised by the fact it was still coming through.It stopped and was sent to the [Control Room to beread,the NAV read it slowly and scratched at his head.Then again he began but this time aloud,to those that now waited, a curious crowd."To you denizens of the deep and men of the sea,who risk your life daily so others stay free.I rarely have seen you, on this my big night,for far too often you are hidden from sight.But purely by luck I saw you tonight.As your scope coaxed the plankton to glow in thenight.And lucky for me I've finally won,the chance to say thanks for all you have done.""I know that you miss your families at home,and sometimes you feel as if you're alone.But trust what I say and I'll do what's right.I'll take something special to your families tonight.""Along with the gifts I'll take to your kin,I'll visit their dreams and leave word within.They'll hear of your love, and how you miss them,I'll tell them that soon you'll be home again.""It might not be much I know that is true,to thank you for all the things that you do.But I'll do what I can, while you do what is right,Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night." IC2(SS) Sean Keck (RIP).

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS ALLSAILORS AT SEA ANDBLESS AMERICA!!

Submitted by Paul BarrishTailhookers smile logging day trapsbut work at night

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had little or no knowledge of sea services currentcapabilities or budget challenges. Issues related tocontinuing resolutions and sequestration were ofreal concern; in recent months it has been verydifficult to create realistic budgets and the longterm outcomes from sequestration have not beenpositive.

“I’m right there with you, no sequestration,”said Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., chairman of theHouse Armed Services readiness subcommittee anda member of the seapower and projection forcessubcommittee. He noted that while he was notentirely pleased with the recently approved two-year budget deal, “it was better than sequestration,”and he was hopeful that would provide somebudgetary stability that could be built upon in thefuture.”

House Appropriations Committee member ScottRigell, R-Va., said when he was elected to his firstterm five years ago, “Not many people were talkingabout regular order and scheduling. It’s all we talkabout now, and that is a good thing. This is seriousbusiness. These are people in harm’s way. Familiesare paying a price.”

Americans should be alarmed by recent calls forrepeal of the Jones Act; it is critical to homelandsecurity. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920,commonly known as the Jones Act, provides for thepromotion and maintenance of the Americanmerchant marine. Among other purposes, the lawregulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters andbetween U.S. ports. Section 27 of the Jones Actdeals with coastwise trade and requires that allgoods transported by water between U.S. ports becarried on U.S.-flag ships, constructed in the UnitedStates, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S.citizens and U.S. permanent residents.

cont'd pg 10

SUPPORTING THE SEA SERVICEShapter member LTJG Tom Winant, USN (RET), joined a group of Navy

League members in Washington, D. C.December 3rd in order to brief legislators andencourage them to provide adequate resourcesfor the sea services in 2018 and beyond. Theevent was the equivalent to national MOAA’sApril “Storming the Hill” event.

The focus was on support for a 308-shipNavy, a fleet of no less than 38 amphibiousships and a Marine Corps end-strength of atleast 184,000 troops, full funding for CoastGuard Offshore Patrol Cutter procurement anda new polar icebreaker, enforcing CargoPreference and the Jones Act as well asincreasing the Maritime Security Program, andending sequestration and re-establishing budgetprocess order.

Legislator reactions were mixed dependingon background and experience. Some served inthe military and were very supportive ofrecommendations while others claimed they

C

Briefing U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio…

Offshore patrol cutter…

Rep Scott Rigell, R-Va…

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Chapter members interested in the seaservices are encouraged to contact theirlegislators and encourage them to provide theresources needed for mission accomplishment.Tom Winant in Los Altos, telephone (650) 678-7120, will provide full information about theU. S. Navy League Santa Clara Council, theissues, and how to make views known to thedecision-makers.____________________SOURCE: Navy League

ATTILIO SERAFINI JRMay 31, 1935 - December 8, 2017

ttilio Serafini passed away peacefully onDecember 8, 2017 surrounded by his

family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Hewas a man of great vitality, integrity and honor, anda true friend to many. He will be deeply missed byall who had the privilege of knowing him.

He was born in Steubenville, Ohio on May31, 1935 to Attilio Serafini and Helen (Costanzo)Serafini as the youngest of his two brothers, DinoSerafini and Claudio Serafini. After spending hisearly childhood in Steubenville his family moved toArizona to enjoy the warmer climate. He receivedhis Bachelor's degree in Business Administrationfrom Arizona State University in 1958 and hisMBA from Pepperdine University in 1979.

Upon graduating from college, he joined theNavy, attended Officer Candidate School inNewport, RI, and was commissioned an Ensign inthe Supply Corps upon graduation from the NavalSupply Corps School in Athens, GA in 1960. Heserved in various assignments in the SupplyDepartment on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock(CVA-19 ) as a Division Officer deployed to theWestern Pacific. On release from active duty hecontinued in the Naval Reserve for 32 yearscommanding various Navy units, attending theNaval War College, and retiring with the rank ofCaptain.

Following his release from active duty in1962, he was employed as a representative by theKealy Company, a major supplier to the NavyExchange system, and for over a decade traveled

cont'd pg 11

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Merchant Marine container ship…

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throughout the Far East. While working in Japanhe met and married the love of his life Hideyo"Eiko" Mishima of Yokohama on his birthday in1973. He eventually returned to live in Hawaiiwith his wife Eiko, and then returned to the BayArea to join his brother Claudio where for severaldecades was a principal at Serafini Associates, aSanta Clara, CA management consulting firm. Hewas a long time resident of San Carlos.

He was active in many civic, military andprofessional organizations including the Bay AreaHonor Flight Foundation, the Bay Area SupplyCorps Association, the Marines Memorial and theNaval Order of the United States Foundationwhere he was the Treasurer since its inceptionover 10 years ago. He was particularly proud ofhis work as project manager responsible for thecommissioning and dedication of a life size statueof Fleet Admiral Chester M. Nimitz on September3, 2013 which is located adjacent to the battle shipUSS Missouri and near the USS ArizonaMemorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Most recentlyhe was the project manager for the creation andinstallation of a bust of Chief John Finn, therecipient of the first Medal of Honor for valorduring the attack on Pearl Harbor which heunveiled this last June aboard the newlycommissioned USS John Finn (DDG-113). Hewas committed to the welfare of our nation'sveterans and for many years counseled veteranson benefits and transiting into private employmentfollowing their release from military service. .

His wife Eiko died in 2009, and he issurvived by his eight nieces and nephews: Claudio"Randy" Serafini, Diane M. Serafini, Mark V.Serafini, Michael A. Serafini, Helen Serafini-Hill,Dino R. Serafini, Chris Serafini, and CeciliaSerafini-Smith all of whom reside in California. He lived a full and productive life surrounded byhis family and his lifelong friends and will bemissed by the so very many people whose lives hetouched with his kindness, generosity andwisdom.

A Visitation was held on December 18from 5pm to 8pm with a 7pm Vigil Service atCrippen & Flynn Carlmont Chapel, 1111 Alameda

de las Pulgas in Belmont. A Funeral Mass washeld at 10am on December 19, 2017 at SaintCharles Church, 880 Tamarack Avenue, SanCarlos followed by interment with Honor Guard at12pm at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in LosAltos.

A Celebration of his life is planned to beheld in February 2018.

If you would like to donate in memory ofAl, he would have preferred the Naval Order ofthe United States Foundation [www.navalorder.org]

The U.S. Space Corp Still on EarthBy CDR William Andersen USNR Retired

he idea of a U.S. Space Corp is to counterthe threat to American national security of

the Russians and the Chinese strengthening theirnational security space systems outside of Earth’satmosphere. Jim Cooper (D-TN) and Mike Rogers(R-AL) of the House Armed Services Committeedrafted legislation early in 2017 to form a SpaceCorps by 2019 as a new branch of the US militaryunder the command of the Air Force.

The Space Corp is the hope of the manywho would leave Earth’s atmosphere to fly andfight among the stars. But, forming the SpaceCorp is still on the ground having confronted itsfirst obstacle: a reluctant Congress unready forspace.

Using the National Defense AuthorizationAct (NDAA) Congress did not crush the SpaceCorp; it postponed it, giving it time to betterprepare to launch the system. They feel operatingmultilaterally is inevitable. For now the SpaceCorp will not be a separate branch. The Air Forcewill manage the activity.

Those in government who oppose SpaceCorp believe it is premature and bureaucratizing.However, the Government is slowlycompromising with the rivals bringing the SpaceCorp closer to realizing a United States defense inspace.

T

New U.S. Air Force Space Badge

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TROA OCTOBER SPEAKER REPORT

he brutality of the Vietnam War--mud, blood, and terror--has been

described by America’s war correspondentsand captured by combat photographers. Oneof the most famous images of the VietnamWar is “Reaching Out,” the moment whenwounded Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Purdie,photographed with a blood-stained bandagetied around his head, is drawn to his fellowsoldier, who lays wounded on the ground. ByJanuary 30, 1968, the Tet offensive, U.S.public opinion took a negative turn with noevidence the war was coming to an end.

The ROA chapter’s late October luncheonspeaker was San Jose State Universitystudent and Santa Clara University ROTCBronco Battalion cadet Travis Chew, whoprovided a modified illustrated presentationdelivered May 25, 2017 to meet a militaryhistory course requirement. His topic wasthe history of the Vietnam War and heprovided a summary of actions which led tothe war, some of the major battles andconflicts, and the events that resulted in U.S.force withdrawal.

This Reserve Officers AssociationChapter #63 speaker report is part of a seriesto be presented in a spirit of cooperation andcollaboration between local armed forces andrelated professional association members.

Cadet Chew provided Vietnam mapsdescribing the operational environment facedduring the war, specifically dense jungle andhigh elevations encountered whicheffectively allowed enemy forces to hide,

Death, pain and suffering in the jungle…

conduct effective ambushes, and transport suppliesundetected. Elevations allowed establishment ofeffective defense postures.

The background, buildup and operations duringthe period 1950 to 1967 was instructive andexplained the French failure of colonalism, the riseof Ho Chi Minh, and later the battle of Dien BienPhu resulting in French surrender and agreements.This was followed by the emergence of SouthVietnam and the 1957 rise to power by Ngo DingDiem, who established an anti-communist state. By1959 insurgents called the Viet Cong (VC) rose innumbers, having 5,000 men and later by 1964 morethan 100,000. The VC, with support from thepopulace, initiated guerilla attacks against theSouth Vietnamese Army (SVA).

In 1961 a new American President, John F.Kennedy, was elected and quickly moved toincrease the size of U.S. forces, make equipmentavailable, create the Special Forces, experimentwith new approaches such as Air Assault, andincrease the U.S. Army presence. By 1964 most

Dense vegetation, torrential rains…

Vietnam victory at Dien Bien Phu…

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South Vietnamese Army elements weresupported by helicopters; 22,000 U.S. troopswere in-country. Diem’s early strategy, alongwith the battle of Ap Bac, demonstrated thefailure of counterinsurgency efforts; Diem diedin 1963.

By July 1965 President Johnson planned toapprove additional forces but had problemsexpanding the Army; however, by the end of1967 the Army had 490,000 troops. GeneralWestmoreland’s strategy included (1) Createdefense positions around Saigon; (2) beginattacks against major enemy forces; and (3)locate and destroy sanctuaries and VC bases. In1965 the fight began in The Highlands againstNorth Vietnam with the first major engagementthe Battle of Ia Drang and Landing Zone X-raywhich proved a significant test for U.S. airmobiletactics.

On January 30, 1968 the Tet offensive wasunderway along with the desperate Battle of Hue,which included seven NV regiments. AlthoughU.S. public opinion soured the battle increased

local support for the U.S. and South Vietnamesegovernments. The American people thought thewar was coming to an end; a military request foran additional 206,000 troops showed just theopposite. The Army Reserve was finallyactivated; the last phase of American involvement,called Vietnamization, was about to begin.Responsibility for ground combat went to theSouth Viet forces, along with an increase in thatforce’s capabilities, as well as a decrease in U.S.artillery and the beginning of withdrawal.Phoenix was a pacification program that entailedsearching for and capturing or killing enemyhiding in South Viet villages. The degree ofsuccess is still debated today.

In 1969 U. S. troop withdrawal began with thereturn of communist forces to South Vietnam.General Abrams created a strategy to counter thenew threat, using air cavalry for heavy assault andestablishment of a dozen fire bases along theCambodian border. The battle of Hamburger Hill,a human meat-grinder, was notable with 70 U.S.Forces killed and 341 wounded and more than 600enemy KIAs. In just 3 weeks the NVA reoccupiedthe hill, enraging the American public. By March1972 withdrawal was underway with all soldiersevacuated except for 100,000. The Easteroffensive began with the NV forces attacking on 3fronts but by November 24th they were losingmomentum; in 1975 the NVA attacked again.7,000 people—U.S. military and SV—wereevacuated, and the war was over.

In 2016, Cadet Chew graduated from CochiseCollege with an AA degree in IntelligenceOperation Studies. He graduated with honors frombasic combat training in 2015 and served twoyears as an intelligence analyst in the Army andArmy Reserve. During his time in the reserves, hecompeted in the Best Warrior competition,making it to the Division level and was awardedtwo Army achievement medals. Cadet Chew is anROA member._____________________________

SOURCE: Cadet Travis Chew

Ap Bac changed views of Vietnam War…

Landing zone X-Ray…

Learning is the only thing the mind neverexhausts, never fears and never regrets. - Leonardo Da Vinci, painter

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or an attorney, do not ask.“It has been a while now. Aren’t you over

it yet?”Don’t be afraid to talk about the deceased,

as memories are with survivors constantly. It iscomforting to survivors to know others have notforgotten them. Tell them, “I remember.”Everybody grieves differently and on a differenttime line. It can take six months to several years.Accept where a survivor is in the process. Do notassume a survivor is no longer interested incouple’s activities. Your invitation might bedeclined, but it will be appreciated.No matter what, remember to be there for asurviving spouse and stay connected.________________________________________SOURCE: MOAA Surviving Spouse AdvisoryCommittee

LOSS OF A LOVED ONEBy Anne Hartline rief is a highly complex, personal

emotional process. Every person is unique,so there will be many individual differences in thegrief process, including personal characteristicsand circumstances of the death.

The way in which an individual grieves alsodepends on the personality of the grieving personand his or her relationship with the person whodied. In addition, evidence-based researchsuggests most people do not go throughprogressive stages. Other research indicates griefis a series of symptoms that come and go andpossibly eventually diminish. Also, cultural andreligious beliefs, coping skills, and socioeconomicstatus will affect how a person will cope with thedeath of a loved one.

cont'd pg 15

TALKING TO A SURVIVING SPOUSEBy Kathy Prout

hen a death occurs after a sudden or long illness during a short or long

marriage, the surviving spouse has suffered ahuge loss. It is never easy. Out of sympathyand good intentions, family and friendssometimes say the darnedest things. Here areexamples of what not say — all comments Iheard as a surviving spouse — and somesuggestions for what to do and say instead:

“I understand exactly how you feelbecause my [substitute any noun other thanspouse, including cat, dog, etcetera] died.”Nobody knows how another person is feeling.Every relationship is different. Instead, sayone of the following: “I can’t imagine howyou must be feeling,” “You must be so sad,”or even, “I don’t know what to say.”

“If you need anything, let me know.”A recent widow(er) doesn’t know what he orshe needs and won’t call. Do say, “May I takeyou out for coffee?” “May I run errands foryou?” “May I bring you a meal or babysit?” or“May I stop by and visit?”

“He/she is at peace now” or “At leastyou were prepared,” in the case of a terminalillness. It is never easy. When death is suddenand unexpected, do not say “At least he/shedidn’t suffer.” The surviving spouse thinks,Maybe he/she didn’t suffer, but I am suffering.

To a younger survivor, people say,“You are young, and you will move on andfind somebody else.” Naturally, the survivingspouse cannot imagine life with anybody otherthan the deceased spouse.

Asking any survivor about dating isjust as tactless. Do not ask, “When are yougoing to start dating?” or “Will you remarry?”

To an older widow, people say, “Youwere so fortunate to have had such a longmarriage or to have known each other solong.” It is never long enough.

“Did he/she leave you a hefty lifeinsurance policy?” Unless you are a very closefamily member, the family financial advisor,

W

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Loss of a loved one…

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Proven clinical data documents grieffollowing a sudden death differs from a deathfollowing a lengthy illness. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, a pioneer in the field, developed a theoryof the stages of grief that has receivedquestionable support from research. A morerecent model of grief names the psychologicalresponses of numbness-disbelief, separationdistress, depression-mourning, and recovery.This recent model emphasizes the theory thatgrief unfolds in stages is an oversimplification ofa highly complex process.

Researchers now have identified specificpatterns to grief’s intensity and duration. Theyfound the worst usually is over in about sixmonths; however, there is no set timeline for thegrief process.

While loss is forever, acute grief is not. Somepeople who have developed a personal resiliencymight be able to get through loss on their own.Others will have a much harder time and willneed outside clinical intervention based on arecent evidence-based model._______________________________________SOURCE: MOAA Surviving Spouse AdvisoryCommittee

SPECTACULAR MT. UMUNHUM REVIVALhe chapter’s February 2012 luncheonspeaker was Mr. Basim Jaber, a civil

engineer and part-time photographer who hadbecome an historian and archivist for the AlmadenAir Force Station at nearby Mt. Umunhum. “Myintentions are just to make sure people learnabout, understand, and remember a key piece ofBay Area military history and the people whowere involved in it,” he said.

The summit, former home of the 862nd RadarSquadron, was built to keep watch over NorthernCalifornia’s airspace as part of the NORADdefense system. At the time of the luncheonpresentation the facility was about to bedemolished and removed forever. Althoughpurchased earlier by the Mid-peninsula RegionalOpen Space District, it had never been opened tothe public because of environmental hazards.

Mr. Jaber said those who were stationed atAlmaden Air Force Station share a common lovefor the place. “Although visits to the mountain arebittersweet due to its present state of disrepair, italways conjures up wonderful memories of aspecial time in my life. The old air force baseshowcases some of the best panoramic views ofthe New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, the SantaClara Valley, San Jose, and on a clear day far upthe bay.

And now years later, after extensive work andthe expenditure of more than $11M, the facilityhas been opened for the use and enjoyment of thegeneral public. Mt. Umunhum , meaning restingplace of the hummingbird, is the fourth largestpeak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Most of themountain is within the Sierra Azul Open SpacePreserve. cont'd pg 16

T

The stages of grief…

It comes in waves…

Mt. Umunhum reopens…

An organization’s ability to learn andtranslate that learning into action rapidly isthe ultimate competitive advantage. - JackWelch, former chairman of General Electric

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As much as possible, the summit has beenrestored to its original contours. It’s awonderful place to reflect on and renewconnections with nature; a shaded summitshelter and viewpoint feature interpretive panelshighlighting the site’s unique cultural, militaryand natural histories; the radar tower, inoperation as part of the Almaden Air ForceStation from 1957 to 1980, was one of a systemof 23 similar radar stations in California andone of hundreds across the country that fedradar signals into the Semi-Automatic GroundEnvironment (SAGE) defense system; from theEast Summit Viewpoint the high point ofMount Umunhum, Mount Diablo and MountTamalpais can be seen as well as the valleybelow.

Lt. Col. Charles Skinner, USAF-Ret, the lastcommanding officer of the facility, and a hostof dignitaries, were on hand September 18th forthe gala opening of the new Mt. Umunhum.___________________SOURCE: Mr. Basim Jaber

There is so much to do on Mt. Umunhum…

Lt. Col. Skinner

Navy League NOVEMBER SPEAKERREPORTPearl Harbor Memoir

he young sailor in Honolulu was stillasleep after dawn December 7, 1941 when

aircraft flying very low passed directly overhead,waking him from his sound sleep. The Japaneseattack on the American Fleet was underway andsoon there was pandemonium in the streets. Thatdidn’t stop Eddie Armes from making his way toFord Island to help transport the wounded to themainland. On Thursday, December 7th this yearthere will be a 76th Anniversary RemembranceCeremony 0830-1015 hours at Point Welcome,Coast Guard Island, Alameda with VADM FredM. Midgett, USCG as guest speaker, and witheveryone invited to attend. Contact YN3 VivienneWiederhold at (510) 437-5654 for fullinformation.

One of the Council’s November eveningmeeting speakers was LT Eddie Armes, USNR(RET), now in his 90s, yet physically strong andspry, speaking loud and clear, using enthusiasticgestures, and with his full head of white hair inplace. A sailor at the time assigned to the heavycruiser USS Astoria (CA-34), Eddie was ontemporary duty at Pearl Harbor to attendparachute school, yet almost immediately theschool facility blew up. The USS Arizona blewup at about the same time. With a wry smile hesaid, “I was just a little seaman in charge of thewhole fleet!”Eddie’s presentation included his experiences atPearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle ofMidway, and Battle of Savo Island offGuadalcanal.

This Navy League of the United StatesSanta Clara Valley Council speaker report is partof a series to be presented in a spirit of

cont'd pg 17

Japanese over Pearl Harbor…

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cooperation and collaboration between localarmed forces and related professional associationmembers.

The second USS Astoria (CL/CA-34) was thelead ship of the Astoria-class of heavy cruisers(later renamed the New Orleans-class) of theUnited States Navy that participated in both theBattle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway,but was then sunk in August 1942 at the Battle ofSavo Island. Astoria was the first ship of theAstoria-class of cruisers to be laid down, butreceived a hull number higher than New Orleansbecause she was launched second. Seen belowoperating in Hawaiian waters during battlepractice, 8 July 1942, Astoria appears to berecovering floatplanes from off her starboardside. Note the booms rigged below the forwardsuperstructure to tow aircraft recovery mats, andstarboard crane swung out.

Eddie was offered a chance to attendparachute school as a requirement to become aparachute rigger, a key specialist needed aboardship in support of four float planes; he washesitant to accept but then he learned he mightget flight pay and that quickly changed his mind.As soon as he heard the low-flying planes he

shouted “The Japs are here!” and with othersbroke into the armory for rifles andammunition. He managed to get off two shotsbut couldn’t tell if he hit anything. Later hetold someone, “I feel sorry for the Japs;” whensomeone questioned that statement hecontinued, “for what America is going to do tothem!” Eddie soon reported for duty aboardAstoria.

The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4 to8 May 1942, was a major naval battle betweenthe Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval andair forces from the United States and Australia,taking place in the Pacific Theatre. The battle ishistorically significant as the first action inwhich aircraft carriers engaged each other, aswell as the first in which neither side's shipssighted or fired directly upon the other. Eddiesimply mentioned that after the battle Astoriadeparted direct to Pearl Harbor where noticewas given to be prepared to depart within 24hours. With a twinkle in his eye, Eddie said henever made a parachute jump but was stillassigned as a rigger, giving Astoria aviatorsinstructions on how to care for and use theirparachutes.

Astoria and Eddie were soon off to theBattle of Midway but it was in the later battle ofSavo Island where things got really rough. Bythe beginning of August, 1942 Astoria had beenreassigned to cover the Guadalcanal-Tulagilandings. On the night of 8/9 August, aJapanese force of seven cruisers and a destroyerattacked the American ships. On the fifth salvoshells ripped into the Astoria superstructure,turning her into an inferno amidships. In quicksuccession, enemy shells put her No. 1 turret

cont'd pg 18

LT Eddie Armes, USN (RET)…

USS Astoria (CA 34)…

Battle of the Coral Sea….

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out of action and started a serious fire in the planehangar that burned brightly and provided theenemy with a self-illuminated target. Eddieclimbed down onto the top of an 8” gun turret,chaos everywhere, and he said you could reallyfeel it when the turret fired. Suffering from theeffects of at least 65 hits, Astoria fought for herlife. Later Astoria turned over on her port beam,rolled slowly, and settled by the stern,disappearing completely by 1216 hours.Officially, 219 men were reported missing orkilled.

In addition to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Eddiesurvived several naval engagements without asingle injury, including the sinking of his ship,USS Astoria, near the Solomon Islands.

The Navy League has grown into the foremostcitizens’ organization to serve, support and standwith all the sea services – the U.S. Navy, U.S.Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S.-flagMerchant Marine. Those interested inparticipation with the Santa Clara Valley Councilshould contact LCDR Tom Winant, USN (RET)in Los Altos, telephone (650) 678-7120._________________________________SOURCE: LT Eddie Armes, USN (RET)

For Surviving SpousesONE LEAST UNDERSTOOD BENEFITBy Patricia Bergquist

A’s pension program and its additionalpayments for assisted-living or in-home

care — called aid and attendance (A&A) orhousebound (HB) allowances. The pensionprogram is a financial needs-based program thatprovides supplemental tax-free benefits to low-income veterans or surviving spouses. Mostveterans or survivors exceed income eligibilityrequirements for a pension, but may qualify ifmedical and/or assisted care expenses significantlyreduce income.

To qualify for a VA pension, the veteran spousemust meet the following service requirements: 90days of active military service on or before Sept. 7,1980, with at least one day during a war timeperiod, or 24 months (or full mobilization period)of active military service after Sept. 7, 1980, with atleast one day during a war time period.

In addition to meeting minimum servicerequirements, a veteran must be: age 65 or older, ortotally and permanently disabled, or a patient in anursing home receiving skilled nursing care, orreceiving Social Security Disability Insurance, orreceiving Supplemental Security Income.

There is no age requirement, but a survivingspouse must have been married to the veteran for atleast one year and have never remarried.

A&A recipients require in-home assistance toperform activities of daily living such as personalhygiene, feeding, dressing, ambulation, orprotection from in-home hazards. Additionalqualifying conditions include being chronicallybedridden, having significantly reduced visualacuity, or needing nursing home care for mental orphysical incapacity. HB recipients are substantially

USS Astoria in big trouble…

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confined to their homes because of permanentdisability. A veteran or surviving spouse may notreceive A&A and HB benefits at the same time.

The VA also conducts an “asset test” — assetseasily converted to income that disqualify theclaimant until those assets have been reducedbelow threshold. There currently is no hard andfast asset figure to provide readers. Unfortunately,the current standard often resides with the VAPension Management Center that processes theindividual claim. The VA has announced it willprovide definitive asset limits at a future date.

A&A often goes unused because potentialrecipients are intimidated by the VA claimprocess, including gathering the documentationand information necessary to complete therequired claim forms and navigating the hard tofind income limits to calculate whether youqualify for benefits. MOAA always recommendsthe use of a Veterans service officer (VSO) toassist with understanding and assembling therequirements for a VA claim or appeal. The VSOsat national or local veterans’ organizations providethis service free of charge.

Two basic forms are required for a survivorpension claim: VA Form 21-534EZ (ApplicationDeath Pension) and VA Form 21-2680(Examination for HB Status or Permanent Needfor Regular A&A). If the survivor resides in anursing home, VA Form 21-0779 (Request forNursing Home Information in Connection withClaim for A&A) also is required.

Beware: A cottage industry of financial firmsoffer “assistance” to restructure veteran orsurvivor portfolios to meet the VA’s asset test.They’ll put your claim together free of charge, asrequired by law, then charge exorbitantcommissions or fees on your asset restructure.For more details, visit the VA’s website.________________________________________SOURCE: MOAA Surviving Spouse AdvisoryCommittee

Army-Navy GameMORE THAN A GAME

n April 1st it was announced that a “wagon-like, highly mobile, semi-autonomous

vehicle used as a small-unit equipment transport,”nicknamed Smitty, had arrived at West Point toreplace the recently retired Army mule as itsmascot. “It’s a robot,” said the Public AffairsOfficer. “It’s like a mule, but better. It’s so cool, Ican’t see how anyone could criticize this change.”April fool! In truth, the newest mule mascot,Paladin, was signed in with his duffel bags, madethe requisite visit to the barber shop to get a big“A” shaved into his hind quarters, and laterreported for duty.

On Saturday afternoon, December 9th, 2017, inPhiladelphia, PA, in a raging snowstorm, theArmy-Navy game score with 3 seconds remainingwas Army 14—Navy 13. With one playremaining Navy attempted a long field goal whichdrifted wide to the left thereby losing to Army bya single point. It was the first time since 1996 thatArmy captured the Commander-In- Chief’strophy. Overseas in Kandahar, Afghanistan,soldiers and Army fans leaped for the sky withpure joy and excitement. In the stadium images ofthe combined glee clubs performing the StarSpangled Banner and cadets and midshipmensinging their respective academy anthems werestirring.

On one day in December each year thousandsof people take a few hours off from what they’redoing to watch the cadets of Army and themidshipmen of Navy battle it out on the fields

cont'd pg 20

O

Cadet Ryan O’Deens with Paladin

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and Iremember. Involve me and I learn. -Benjamin Franklin, inventor and statesman

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together—even though they were scattered fromone coast to the other—and would remind them ofwhere they had been, and of what their countryhad asked of them. They may have been rootingfor one team to defeat the other, but what matteredmore was that they were holding on to somethingimportant, something that was already driftingaway. With rare exceptions the young athletes onthe field were not headed to the National FootballLeague—these were fighters playing football, notfootball players pretending to fight.

“The games were watched by all those still-young fathers who had joined together andtraveled across the oceans to vanquish a fearsomeenemy. Their eyes were fixed upon a game, butthey were seeing something that would neverappear on a scoreboard, something far away”Greene said. “My own dad, who was with the 91st

Infantry in North Africa and Italy, died 18 yearsago this month. Had he lived, I know exactlywhat he would be doing at 3 pm Eastern Time,Saturday, December 10, 2016, with his family byhis side, and why he, and we, would be doing it.As a discerning playwright, in a different context,he once indelibly put it: Attention must be paid.”___________________SOURCE: Bob Greene

of friendly strife. The Army-Navy game, one ofthe most traditional and enduring rivalries incollege football, commands world-wideattention. Why would they do it? The two teamsare seldom in the running for a nationalchampionship; before anything else, the playershave to meet rigorous academic standards foradmission. They do it because the game is a lotmore than a football contest. It is an occasion tounite soldiers and sailors.

According to author and Chicago Sun-Timescolumnist, Bob Greene, “Back in the WWII andKorean War days service in the armed forceswasn’t purely voluntary; if you were an able-bodied male and you didn’t enlist, you’dundoubtedly be drafted because your countryflat-out needed you. This all-but-universalservice for men brought a sense of sharedsacrifice, and shared experience, that is largelymissing today.

“On Saturday afternoons in the ‘50s, withsoldiers and sailors back home and raising theiryoung families in a nation whose peace they hadwon, the Army-Navy game would bring them

1st snow storm of the season…

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Good for a LaughSERGEANT’S PHILOSOPHY

he Company Commander and the FirstSergeant were in the field. As they hit the

sack for the night, the First Sergeant said, "Sir, lookup into the sky and tell me what you see?" The CO said, "I see millions of stars." 1st Sgt.: "And what does that tell you, sir?"

CO: "Astronomically, it tells me that there aremillions of galaxies and potentially billions ofplanets. Theologically, it tells me that God is greatand that we are small and insignificant.Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have abeautiful day tomorrow.

What does it tell you, Top?"

1st Sgt.: "Well sir, it tells me that somebodystole our tent."______________________SOURCE: Military Humor

Good for a LaughALLIGATOR SHOES

An Army Ranger was on holiday in the depthsof Louisiana, where he tried to buy some alligatorshoes. However, he was not prepared to pay thehigh prices. After failing to haggle the vendor downto a reasonable price level, he ended up shouting "Idon't give two hoots for your shoes; I'll go and killmy own!"

The shopkeeper replied, "By all means. Justwatch out for the two Marines who are doing thesame.

So the Ranger went out into the Bayou, and aftera while saw two men with spears, standing still inthe water. They must be the two Marines, hethought. Just at that point he noticed an alligator

moving in the water towards one of them. TheMarine stood completely passive, even as the gatorcame ever closer. Just as the beast was about toswallow him, the Marine struck home with hisspear and wrestled the gator up onto the beach,where several already lay.

Together the two Marines threw the gator ontoits back, whereupon one exclaimed "Damn! Thisone doesn't have any shoes either!"______________________________SOURCE: Military Jokes and Truths

ABOARD USS BENNINGTON 1955I was cleaning the antennas on the USS

Bennington one Sunday morning when the loud-speaker announced:

USS Bennington….“Religious services. Maintain silence about

the decks. Knock off all unnecessary work.”

An hour later the opinion many of us heldregarding our daily routine was confirmed with thisannouncement: “Resume all unnecessary work.”________________SOURCE: Archives

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Alligator has no shoes…

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SVC WEBSITESOur Chapter website is www.siliconvalleymoaa.org, a shorter link is www.svcmoaa.org. You canalso get to it from the national MOAA site: Putthe cursor over Chapters and select ChapterLocator, CA, then Silicon Valley Chapter. Fromthere you may link over to our primary websiteabove. Our home page has links for The Bulletin andeBulletin. B

TRICARE FOR LIFESERVICE

For assistance, contact theWisconsin Physicians Servicewww.tricare4u.com866-773-0404

Members can report the death of a retiree locallythrough the Retire Activity Office (RAO). Thephone number is650-603-8047You can also notify a MOAA member’s death to:MOAA, Attn: MSC,201 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314-2539.Or: Call 1-800-234-6622Or: E-mail: msc@moaa.org. Notify SVC-MOAAby phoning the Membership Chair–see listing onpage 2 of The Bulletin. B

Emeritus MembershipMembers who have achieved 90 years are granted"Emeritus " status and are not required to paymembership dues.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?

OR WHERE THIS IS?

This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace,now home to the 4th Infantry Division. It willeventually be shipped home and put in the memorialmuseum in Fort Hood, Texas.

The statue was created by an Iraqi artist namedKalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Husseinto make the many hundreds of bronze busts ofSaddam that dotted Baghdad . Kalat was so gratefulfor the American's liberation of his country that hemelted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam and madethe statue as a memorial to the American Soldiersand their fallen warriors. Kalat worked on thismemorial night and day for several months.

To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girlgiving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss ofhis comrade in arms.

Do you know why we don't hear about this in thenews? The media avoids it because it does not havethe shock effect - but we can do something about itWe can pass this along to as many people as we canin honor of all our brave military who are making adifference.

The beautiful thing about learning is that no onecan take it away from you. - BB King, musician

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Membership Application and Renewal Form ( Revised 10/17 ) Please complete form fully

Silicon Valley Chapter Military Officers Association of AmericaMail to: SVC-MOAA P.O. Box 2 Moffett Federal Airfield, CA 94035

Date________________ Annual Dues: $30.00(Surviving Spouse - Emeritus - New member - Dues are not charged, donations gratefully accepted)Enroll Me As: New Member____Renewing Member____Emeritus( over 90yrs)__Surv Spouse___Donations to SVC Fund $__________ Donations to Scholarship Fund $__________Donations to PAWS $__________ Donation to USO $__________(All Donations are Tax Deductible) Total: $____________Make checks payable to SVC-MOAA and mail to above address.

Status: Active___Reserve____ Guard___Retired____Former Officer___If you are a new chapter member, please advise us how you learned about this chapter.____________________________________________________________________________

Name:_____________________________/__________________/___/__________/_________ Last First MI Rank Service

Your Date of Birth__________ Spouse’s Name_____________

Address:_________________________________________/___________Number Street (P.O. Box, etc.) Apt/Suite

City____________________State_______Zip_________/______ 5 Digit 4 Digit

Phone(____)____________ E-mail___________________________________________________

SVC Dues are due 1 January and are separate from National MOAA Dues. SVC Dues support the Bulletinand Administrative functions. Luncheons are self-supporting.

LOCATION – BILTMORE HOTEL -- 2151 LAURELWOOD RD, SANTA CLARA, CADIRECTIONS: Going North on Hwy 101: Exit at Montague/San Tomas, then Montague; then Right on Laurelwood. Going South on Hwy101: Exit at Montague/San Tomas, then Montague, then Right on Laurelwood.---------------------Cut Here--------------------------------------------------------------------Cut Here-----------------

****LUNCHEON RESERVATION FORM****Deadline to reach SVC no later than 12 Jan.

If you have not sent in your reservation form by theabove date and still wish to attend,

please call Keith Ott 530-219-2404LUNCHEON PRICE - $26.00

Times: Social Hour 11:00 AM, Luncheon 11:45 AM

Please reserve _______ places for the 18 January LuncheonA TOTAL of $__________________ including a donation of $_______ for (circle one) Scholarship, PAWS,USO, or undesignated donation

Make checks payable to: SVC MOAA

Mail to: SVC MOAA, PO Box 2 Moffett Federal Airfield, CA 94035-0002RESERVE IN THE NAME OF: ____________________________Telephone: ______________________________________________MENU: Buffet - Two hot entrees with vegetables. Assorted breads and rolls. Desserts. Coffee and tea.NAMES OF PERSONS WHO ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PAYMENT:

Silicon Valley Chapter of theMilitary Officers Association of AmericaP.O. Box 2Moffett Field, CA 94035

January 2018

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGEPAIDSAN JOSE CAPERMIT NO. 1223

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