President’s Corner ….…….……..………. 1 Digger’s Desk …………….…….….….…… 2 Color Guard 1992 …………………………. 2 Odds & Ends ………….….……….…….…. 3 Chaplain’s Corner …..…………….……… 4 Christmas Activity Wrap-up …….……. 5 Christmas Trees …………………………… 6 Operation Relentless Pursuit ………… 6 Wreaths Across America ………….…… 6 Calendar …………..……………….…..….…. 7 Committees …………………………..…….. 8 Ads …………………………..…..…………….. 9 Membership Form …….…..……..…….. 10

Tom Brown - Editor & Publisher Don Dignan - Editor & Columnist Jerry Thomason - President & Columnist Bob Lamoureux - Membership & Columnist Rich Whipple - Chaplain & Columnist Jim Tillman - Columnist Tom Trestler - Photographer Nancy Dignan - Calendar Jim Hodgson - Chief Ron King Dale Luebke

Chapter 528 Homefront

Index Homefront Staff

“Never Again Will One Generation of Veterans Abandon Another”

January 2020

Welcome Home!

President’s Corner

Jerry ThomasonNMCB 133RVN 1969-70

Distribution Staff

Greetings Members,

As 2019 winds down I can’t help but be proud of our accomplishments this year. We’re fortunate to have such a hardworking group of individuals and all around great guys and gals who are willing to devote their time in order to enrich the lives of others. Tuesday’s VA hospital visit was a success, Wednesday the clothing was delivered to the Veterans organizations so our work is done. It’s now time to sit back, relax and give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done. To the Officers, BOD’s and members, I want to wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

In MemoriamDon Shannon

Jan. 1943 to Dec. 2019Army May 66 to Feb. 68

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Digger’s DeskDon Dignan

D/2/16 “Rangers”1st Inf. Div.1967-1968

VVA 528 Color Guard Marching in the 1992 Plymouth 4th of July Parade

I had this picture from the Plymouth Observer that I want to share . I believe that this picture was taken in 1992 or 1993.First Row, left to right: Joe Kato (deceased), Buzz Rivera (deceased), Rich Whipple, Joe Agius, John Ligner, and George Klepack. Second Row: Rick Divito (deceased), and Bill Hayes (deceased). Of those in this picture, Buzz Rivera, Rich Whipple, Rick Divito, and Bill Hayes held the position of president to our fledgling chapter. Those deceased would never had predicted that VVA 528 would get this large, as well as the public standing up, clapping, and shouting “we love you” as our members walk in the 4th of July nowadays!

Rich Whipple

LOUNGE & AREA EVENTS Don’t forget Karaoke on the 1st and 3rd Fridays at 8:00PM, Euchre at 7:00PM every Wednesday (except New Year’s Day) and Pinochle on Friday at 2:00PM. Also, don’t forget the birthday book.

AA VAMC VISIT On Tuesday December 17, we visited several patients at the Ann Arbor VAMC. We visited the Veterans in the CLC as well as individual rooms. All the patients were very receptive and willing to chat. The surprise was how few members showed up at this annual event, i.e., 6-8. Most were still Christmas shopping, I guess. Besides us, the patients were visited by representatives of Chapter 310, the Saline Fiddlers, Miss Washtenaw County and Stacey Mason, Music director at St. Johns and past Miss Michigan. Rewarding time for those who attended.

MICHIGAN VETERANS FOUNDATION-DETROIT VETERANS CENTER

On Wednesday, December 18, we trekked down to MVF after loading several vehicleswith purchases from Kohl’s and donations from several members and their parishes. MVF is in our 3 year loop involving them and two other Veteran serving organizations.Several Kohl’s employees, disguised as elves, also made the trip downtown.

CHRISTMAS TREE SALE The last Christmas tree left the lot Tuesday, December 10. A few days before, I helped out for couple of hours and after placing my last sale of the day in this guy’s truck, he gave me a$100 for a $40 tree….Christmas Spirit personified. Thanks to the main crew of Dave Henwood, Ron King, Bob Dew and Jerry Thomason among a few others for selling and delivering. A job well done.

I’ll see you at the January meeting. It’s a great time to be a Veteran and member of Chapter 528.

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Odds & Ends

Bob LamoureuxCo. C, 3/47, 9th Inf.

Come Join Us Saturday, January 11, 2020

The Mayflower / Lt. Gamble Post 6695

Aux is Hosting a Soup and Salad Dinner At

1426 Mill St., Plymouth, MI5:00 - 7:00 P.M.$5.00 per person

CASH BAR WILL BE AVAILABLE

Contact Judy Thomason @ 734-545-0184judythomason@gmail.com

Membership It is with great sadness we report the passing this past month of longtime member, Don Shannon. Don, also known as Captain Boblo and the popcorn man was very active in the chapter and was always a pleasure to work with. He will truly be missed. Our condolences go to Don’s family. There were no applications for membership this past month. Our current membership stands at 313 individual and 84 associate members. Of these we have 313 life VVA and 57 life AVVA members. Lapsed Members: As of December 25, 2019 the following individuals have not renewed their membership: VVA: Dale Wofford AVVA: not available Dropped from Roster: none January VVA Renewals: n/a January AVVA Renewals: noneIf you have already renewed thank you. If you have not, please do so before the end of the month to keep your membership current.

AVVA Membership I have not received an AVVA membership report since August so I can’t report on current membership totals, delinquent members or those dropped from the roster. The only thing I can report are upcoming renewals. I’ve been told I cannot get the rosters because I am not the chapter’s elected AVVA representative. The funny thing is Brian Bentley who is the elected rep isn’t getting them either. It is one excuse after another but Brian and I will persevere and get them back so we can keep you updated.

Christmas Trees Thanks to everyone who came out to help sell trees or who came to buy one. They were completely gone in about 10 days, a new record. There was even 1

Charlie Brown tree that someone bought. The post made $1,800 with another $570 in donations. Thanks also to Bill Browning and Ron King for chairing this event.

Elections It’s not too early to think about our elections in April and whether or not you might like to run for office. The chapter is always looking for candidates with new and fresh ideas to lead us. Nominations will begin at the February meeting.

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Chaplain’s Corner Perfectly Placed

from Our Daily Bread, by Remi Ovedele Rich Whipple

Chaplain (Certified)(A sinner saved by God’s Grace)

Cell: 734-751-2992rekjwhipple@yahoo.comHHC/2/503rd Infantry173rd Airborne Brigade

1968 - 1969

Winter Clothing Drive

Scientists know our planet is precisely the right distance from the sun to benefit from its heat. A little close and all the water would evaporate, as on Venus. Only a bit farther and everything would freeze like it does on Mars. Earth is also just the right size to generate the right amount of gravity. Less would make everything weightlessly sterile like our moon, while more gravity would trap poisonous gases that suffocate life as on Jupiter. The intricate physical, chemical, and biological interactions that comprise our world bear the imprint of a sophisticated Designer. We catch a glimpse of this complex craftsmanship when God speaks to Job about things beyond our understanding. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” God asks. “Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?” (Job 38:4-6) This glimpse of creation’s magnitude causes us to wonder at Earth’s mighty oceans bowing before the One who “shut up the sea behind doors when it burst from the womb,..[who said] ‘This far you may come and no farther’” (vv.8-11). In wonder may we sing with the morning stars and shout for joy with the angels (v.7), for this elaborate world was made for us that we might know and trust God.

Thank You, Creator God, for this elaborate world You designed for us.

Chaplain’s note: Prayers for Bob Bryan who will be at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital (in CLC, Room 58) for another four weeks or so as he has encountered a wound that needs to be changed every day which causes great pain, and for his wife, Ruth, who is traveling back and forth to be by his side; prayers for

Gary (“Ouch) Boucher as he is now at home with hospice from his pancreatic cancer; for Bob Anderson at home with his tough fight with lung cancer.

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The photo taken at the Emmanuel House Veterans Center where we presented a check for $500 to Nadine Jones who chairs the ‘Love A Michigan Vet’ foundation. She was working in conjunction with Michelle Robbins of the ‘Operation Injured Soldier’ group serving up Christmas dinner and distributing clothing to the Veterans. Also pictured here are Jerry Thomason, John Fleming and Ron King.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing. Thank You to all of the members that came out on Saturday, December 7 to Sam’s Club in Canton. The results of our efforts on that Saturday were $721.62.

Winter Clothing Drive Our 14th Annual Winter Clothing Drive was successfully completely on Wednesday, December 18. The clothing this year went to the Michigan Veterans Foundation in Detroit.

Darrell Bazman and I went to see our friend Lisa at Kohl’s on Ford Road and Canton and explained our needs. She did her normal wonderful job in supplying the items needed at tremendously low prices. We spent just short of the allotted $2,000 and received over $10,000 that was delivered on December 18. And we still have Kohl’s Rewards to cash in that will get us some additional items to donate.

We also received a large number of clothing donations that were received at the Plymouth VFW and the First United Methodist Church of Garden City. Eleven of the Chapter members (see picture on page 4) delivered the five vehicles of clothing. Lisa and her crew also came down to help deliver the clothing. This means we should get an additional $500 donation from the Kohl’s Foundation for their employees’ volunteering with us.

The Love a Michigan Vet Project was holding a Christmas Party at the Emmanuel House in Detroit that same evening. Four of the Chapter Members (see picture) went down to deliver the donation and help out at the Event.

A great deal of thanks goes out to Lisa and her wonderful staff at Kohl’s on Ford Road in Canton, anyone who helped deliver the items and anyone who donated any of the items!!!! Hopefully we have helped a large number of veterans who do not have it as good as we do. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Salvation Army Bell Ringing

Pat Doherty, Mike Steffes and Rick Popa.

Ron King, Mike Steffes, Don Dignan and Jerry Thomason.

John Fleming 92nd Finance SectionCam Ranh Bay

Emmanuel House

Christmas Activity Wrap-up

6Christmas Tree Sales The 2019 VFW Post 6695 Christmas Tree Sales event was a fantastic success. We kicked off “Black Friday” by setting a new record of 31 trees sold on the first day! From there we never looked back as we sold the other 84 trees in nine days. In total, we made $ 1,725.00 profit for the Post, along with another $570.00 in tips! Of course, this annual event would not be possible without our wonderful volunteers stepping up to help their Post. We want to especially thank the members that volunteered to deliver the trees throughout the community. Moreover, we offer this “free” delivery as a means of showing the community how much we appreciate their support each year. Special thanks to Dave Henwood, Jerry Thomason, and yours truly who unselfishly volunteered their trucks.

The following members deserve a huge THANK YOU for their time and dedication: Jim Tillman, Bob Bryan, Bryan Bentley, Gary Bush, John Bertorello, Dale Freels, Bruce Freels, Dale Luebke, Tom McMullen, Rick Adis, Gordy Bardeleben, Skip Davidson, and Don Dignan.It is the volunteers who make this Post one of the finest in the District. Finally, we sincerely thank all members who helped to make this our eleventh successful year! The unloaders, the tree hangers, and the tree sellers-----THANK YOU!

Ron King Bill BrowningCo-Chair Co-Chair

Operation Relentless Pursuit  Attorney General William P. Barr announced that Detroit has been targeted as one of 7 cities that is one of the most violent cities in America. Therefore the resources of ATF, DEA, FBI, and U.S. Marshals will be combined to support state and local law enforcement partners in Detroit. They pledge to hold accountable the trigger-pullers, firearm traffickers, violent criminals and those who supply them guns to terrorize our communities. Nation wide there is a commitment of $71 million in federal grant funding with the hope that our cities will be safer.Jim Tillman

Some pictures from the Wreaths Across America ceremony on December 14 attended by Bob Lamoureux, Jerry Thomason and Don Dignan.

Wreaths Across America

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Calendar by Nancy Dignan

Richard Adis, Ronald Bator, John Berry, Charles Bilyk, Patricia Brothers, Mike Bush, Lee Camilleri, Robert Cheatham, Steven Cunningham, James Day, Patrick Doherty, Jim Dorey, Louie Dorka, Arthur Esper, Shawn Flaharty, Dennis Fuelling, William Gravett, William Harrigan, Peter Holden, Johnnie Johnson, Larry Kijorski, Ronald King, Patricia Klopschinsky, Andy Lawrence, Aggie Little, Gary MacDonald, Donald Marshall, George Mason, John O’Hara, Dick O’Hare, Robert Parker, Rick Popa, Mike Potochick, Phil Pursell, Donald Rauch, John Sliwa, Eugene Spurgess, Mike Steffes, Joseph Tebor, Donald Tulley, Susie Wagner, Dennis Waling, John Wallace, Walter Weber, Michael Wisienski, Dale Worcester, Jimmy Yarbrough and George Zathey.

JANUARY 2020

January Birthdays

KARAOKE

KARAOKE

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Chapter 528 Homefront January 2020Chapter 528 Website: www.vva528.orgChapter 528 Travel Site www.travelvva528.comAdvertising Rates: 1 year $60; 6 mos. $45; 1 issue $15

Tom Brown, Editor/Publisher 2nd Missile Battalion

44th Artillery Pershing 1st yr HHD III Corps 2nd yr

Ft. Sill, OK

Chapter Officers President Jerry Thomason 734-895-5257 1st Vice President John Heraghty 734-464-31332nd Vice President Gary Bush 734-718-2301 Secretary Ron King 734-679-6424 Treasurer John Fleming 734-421-0149 Board of Directors Darrel Bazman 734-207-3197 (1) Don Dignan - 734-525-0157 (1)Rich Whipple - 734-751-2992 (1) Gene Spurgess 248-887-6212 (1) Bruce Beny0 - 734-326-0867 (2) Don Petrere 734-595-1422 (2) Al Sneath - 734-377-5337 (2)

Committees A.O./Health Care Bob Dew 734-421-1805 Agent Orange Events Bob Dew 734-421-1805 AVVA Representative Bryan Bentley 734-604-6066 By-Laws Jim Hodgson 734-416-5159 Chaplain Rich Whipple 734-751-2992Chapter Historian Gary Pritchard 734-522-2033 Fundraising Bob Dew 734-421-1805 Homeless Veterans John Fleming 734-421-0149 Membership Bob Lamoureux 734-397-8389 Homefront Newsletter Editor & Publisher Tom Brown 313-336-0192 Editor Don Dignan 734-525-0157 Distribution Chief Jim Hodgson 734-416-5159 Assistant Ron King 734-679-6424 Assistant Dale Luebke 248-403-4244 Product Sales Rick Demeester 248-486-9981POW/MIA Al Kerbyson 734-612-9757 Public Affairs Don Dignan 734-525-0157 Sergeant-at-Arms John Fleming 734-52504560 Service Representative Aggie Little 734-722-9535 Sportsmen’s Raffle Bob Dew 734968-3267 State Delegate Dennis Bielskis 248-486-0001 State A.Delegate Gary Estermyer 313-283-6943 State VVA Product Sales John Riling 734-776-2239 VAVS Deputy Ron King 734-454-4522 Vietnam War 50th Com. Ron King 734-4544522 Website Bob Dew 734-968-3267

Bryan Bentley 734-604-6066 John Spencer 734-716-0619 Dennis Bielskis 248-767-1654 Tom Brown 313-336-0192

Chapter 528 VVA Service Officers (VSO) Dennis Bielskis - 810-623-8002 Gary Estermyer - 313-961-9568 Veterans Crisis CentersVeterans Center 313-381-1370Dearborn Crisis Center 313-584-7800 VA Medical Center Detroit 313-576-1000 VA Ann Arbor Health Care System 734-769-7100Editor’s Note and Disclaimer Articles, flyers, calendar, event dates and photos must be submitted by the 25th of the month in order to be considered for publication. Send the article, flyer or photo to Tom Brown 17730 Snow Ave Dearborn, MI 48124 or email Tom at tom@vva528.org. Except as otherwise noted, all published articles become the property of VVA Chapter 528 and may not be reprinted without the Chapter’s permission. Chapter 528 reserves the right to edit for space. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Chapter, the editor, or the National VVA. Mayflower Lt. Gamble VFW Post 6695 (734-459-6700).

Our Service PhotosVVA Chapter 528 has 151 VVA members’ service photos displayed and 3 AVVA members’ service photos on our website www.vva528.org/members528.html and in our display case. I’m sure most members have a photo of themselves laying around somewhere. When you find your photo you can either mail it to Tom Brown @ 17730 Snow Ave. Dearborn, MI 48124, scan it and send it to: tombrown1949@gmail.com as a jpg or jpeg, bring it to our general membership meetings and give it to Tom or bring it to the VFW. Be sure to include your name, branch of service and the year the photo was taken. Don Petrere will place the copied service photo in our display case.

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No. 213208 eV)

TROPHIES & ENGRAVING Ed Duprey

Owner

32635 Ford Road Garden City, MI 48135

(Between Venoy & Merriman Roads) Hours: 9 - 6 Weekdays 19 - Noon Sat.

Phone: (734) 266 - 1815 Fax: (734) 266 -1817

www.greatlakestrophies.com E-mail: sales@greatlakestrophies.com

Be sure to designate VVA Chapter 528 when turning in your vehicle.

734-748-5168 frabar2136@gmail.co

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Vietnam Veterans of America VVA membership is open to U.S. armed forces veterans who served on active duty (for other than training purposes) in the Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961 and May 22, 1975, or in any duty location between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975 Name________________________________________ email _______________________________________ Phone___________________________________ Present Address_____________________________________________ City_________________________________ State__________________ Zip Code ____________________ Branch of Service___________________________________ Date of Birth_______________________________________ Today’s Date ________________________

$50.00 Lifetime Membership Enclosed ______ _____ I am a Vietnam Era Veteran and would like to be a member. Enclosed is a copy of my DD 214 Form. One must have served a minimum of 180 days of active service. _____ I am not a Vietnam Era Veteran, but would like to be an Associate Member

One may become an Associate Member (AVVA). _____ 1 year ($20), _____ 3 year ($50), _____ Life membership ages 59 and under ($175), _____ 60 and above ($100). When purchasing a life membership proof of age must also be submitted. The easiest form of proof is a copy of your driver’s license. There is one new AVVA option available. Current VVA members can support the AVVA by purchasing a life membership in AVVA for only $50.

Return this form to: Vietnam Veterans of America Plymouth/Canton Chapter 528 P.O. Box 6319 Plymouth, MI 48170-0473

January 2020Chapter 528 Homefront

was lively and productive at these hearings. On Wednesday evening I attended the almost three hour Region 5 caucus (moderated by John Riling) where we heard from almost all of the candidates.