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The Military Order of the World WarsGREATER BOSTON CHAPTER

P.O. BOX 290102BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02129

MEETING NOTICE

OFFICERS:Chapter CommanderLTC Frederick J. Maguire, USA, Ret.Kristinm1@beld.net. Sr. Vice Commander2LTJason A. Sokolov, USA Fmr. (also Assistant Adjutant)2nd Vice CommanderCOL James A. Weigel, USAR, Ret.Finance OfficerLTC Michael A. Lavey, USA, Ret.lavsale@concentric.net. Asst. F/O COL Arthur D. Marcotti, USAF, Ret. CAPT Phillip C. Phleger, USN, Ret.AdjutantCOL (MA) Lawrence A. Willwerth, USA, Ret.Lwillwerth3@yahoo.com. Asst. Adj. LCDR David W. Graham, USN, Ret. rWebmasterCPT William J. Maloney, USA FmrJudge AdvocateCAPT Leo M. Lazo, USN, Ret.MarshalBG Frederick L. Lincoln, USA, Ret.Immediate Past CommanderLTC Walton B. Stamper, USA, Ret.wbstamper@verizon.net.

Agenda:1130-1200 Social Half Hour1200 Submit Lunch Orders1200 Call to Order, Invocation and moment of silence for deceased companions, pledge of allegiance, recitation of MOWW PreambleWelcome by Chapter Commander, Introduction of Guests ,Minutes of Last Meeting, Reports by Treasurer, Adjutant, Membership Committee, and Chapter Commander’s ReportOld and New BusinessIntroduction of Speaker and adjournment.

DATES: Tuesday, 3 February 2015Tuesday, 3 March 2015Tuesday, 7 April 2015

TIME: 1130 Social (Half Hour)1200 Luncheon

PLACE: Union Oyster House41 Union StreetBoston, MA

PARKING: Parcel 7 GarageCongress Street, Boston, MA(1/2 block from restaurant)($3.00 validated by restaurant cashier)

RESERVATIONS: Not Required

COST: $30.00

SPEAKER:REMARKS: We are returning to noon as the start time for lunch

Tuesday, 3 February: LTC Blaise Gallahue, USA, Professor of Military Science, Northeastern University

Tuesday, 3 March: COL Russell E. Smith, USMC, Commander, 25th Marine Regiment

Tuesday, 7 April: MG L. Scott Rice, Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard

Region 1 website http://region-1-moww.org

NEW NATIONAL WEBSITE ADDRESS:http://www.moww.org

Directions to Union Oyster House, 41 Union Street, Boston, MA - Telephone No. (617) 227-2750Public Transportation by the “T” is approximately one block from the restaurant if you use either the Haymarket Square or Government Center Stations: Haymarket Square Station services the Green and Orange lines.Government Center Station services the Green and Blue lines.If you are driving: The Parcel 7 Garage is about a half block from the restaurant on Congress Street. Be sure to have your parking ticket validated. With validation, the cost is $3.00 for up to 3 hours. The Union Oyster House cashier validates tickets. For orientation purposes note that Faneuil Hall is one block from the restaurant

OUR CHAPTER’S 96TH YEAR

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Among the perpetual members of our Chapter, from left: General of the Armies John J. Pershing, Major General George S. Patton, President John F. Kennedy, Governor and Senator Leverett Saltonstall

The Military Order of the World WarsGreater Boston Chapter – Meeting of 6 January 2015

CAPT Earl Kishida, USN (Ret.) is sworn in as a perpetual member. Earl has long been an “annual” member and recently switched to perpetual status. Our Chapter Commander, LTC Fred Maguire does the honors, and CDR Bob Gillen assists on the right.

Below: Various views of the Meeting and Companions

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Special Note: To encourage “annual members” (members who renew their memberships by paying dues on an annual basis) and new members to become perpetual members of the Order, the Chapter will reimburse $100 of the cost of perpetual membership to those who choose to do so. This is a reinstatement of a program that was highly successful in the past and it is hoped that it will encourage more members to make this important commitment to the Order. This offer is open to all who become perpetual members before June 30, 2015. A perpetual member pays no dues or other similar fees. Moreover, the name of a perpetual member remains on our roster for so long as the Order exists, and when the perpetual member passes away, he or she is specifically remembered at the Order’s annual memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery and is remembered in the memorial program for that event. Please see the Adjutant or Finance Officer to follow up on this offer.

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Above: Chapter Commander LTC Fred Maguire, left, and Adjutant, COL Larry Willwerth, right, present a certificate of

appreciation and challenge coin to CAPT Verne Gifford.The pictures and the following minutes were provided by our Adjutant, COL Larry Willwerth:

The meeting was extremely well attended beginning with our social half-hour at 11:30. The call to order was given by our Chapter Commander, LTC Fred Maguire, at noon and an Invocation was offered by LTC Walt Stamper, followed by the pledge of allegiance and a recitation of the MOWW Preamble by COL Lawrence Willwerth.Guests present were CDR Emery Haskell introduced by CAPT Earl Kishida and LTC David Anderson, of the MOWW Worcester Chapter and also the MOWW Region 1, Adjutant and Finance Officer.

The following staff reports were presented. Adjutant’s report: COL Lawrence Willwerth: The Minutes of last meeting as noted in the bulletin were accepted and the reading was waived. For those who get their notices by mail, an MOWW Quarterly Meeting notice (Jan-Mar 2015) in hard copy was mailed out in December. The next mailing of the Quarterly Bulletin will be issued in March 2015. Once an MOWW Credit Card id established, MOWW Adjutant will stock MOWW Ties and name tags. Our Adjutant will also set up MOWW mini-medals for the Chaptercompanions. It is recommended that any future orders of merchandise by the members from MOWW HQ be consolidated by our Adjutant. [He will include the member’s orders with the Chapter’s own and see that you receive your items.] Treasurer’s Report: LTC Mike Lavey: -MOWW Boston will reimburse six Boston Area Youth Leadership Conference students at Norwich University once details are confirmed. [This program of patriotic education for high school students is a joint project of the University and MOWW.] All bills have been paid and Chapter finances are in good condition.

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Retired US Navy Seal, CAPT Earl Kishida, was sworn in as a perpetual member by LTC Fred Maguire with the assistance of CDR Bob Gillen, the Massachusetts Department Commander.

LTC Fred Maguire offered the following comments: The December meeting was successful with 39 in attendance. Thanks to the efforts of CDR Bob Gillen, MOWW Boston Chapter sponsored six Boston Area high school students to the MOWW/Norwich University Youth Leadership Conference. The Chapter’s speaker focus will continue on public safety with consideration of recognizing an appropriate local official with an MOWW Award. Fred also reported on the MOWW Region I Meeting, which was held at the Mount Vernon Restaurant in Somerville on Saturday 13 December 2014. The Boston chapter was well represented.

CAPT Paul Mawn addressed the meeting to report that, contrary to past trends, the new Congress, just in session will have six members who have a direct affiliation with HarvardUniversity.

LTC Kevin Upton – A board member of the Pershing Rifles Organization – The Pershing RiflesAlumni organization [a group affiliated with MOWW] is to cosponsor the creation of a National WWI Memorial with the National WWI commission. As Federal Law prohibits the creation of any new Memorial in Washington DC Mall area, the current “Pershing Park” will be rededicated as the WWI Memorial. Kevin suggested that MOWW participation by this Chapterat the memorial dedication should be considered since General Pershing was a Greater Boston Chapter companion. In addition, he informed the meeting that there will be a Military Tattoo at the 69th Armory in New York City in 2017 or 2018.

Our guest speaker was CAPT Verne Gifford, USCG, First Coast Guard District, currently serving as its Chief of Staff. The United States Coast Guard is the smallest of five armed forces (3% of total military personnel) with about 40,000 total personnel, of which approximately 5,000 are civilians compared to 1.3 million DOD personnel. Its budget is approximately 1.5% (`$10 billion) of the total of the Department of Defense annual expenditures. The USCG has the secondlargest percentage of women in service –about 19% of its total force – only behind the USAF which has women as approximately 23% of active personnel.

The USCG is organized in nine districts and each district is sub organized into sectors. FirstCoast Guard District has 5 sectors, from New York through New England. By law, the USCG has eleven missions: ports, waterways and coastal security, drug interdiction, aids to navigation,

search and rescue, living marine resources, marine safety,defense readiness, migrant interdiction, marine environmental protection, Ice operations, and other law enforcement duties.

The US Coast Guard was established in 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service under the US Treasury Department during the tenure of Alexander Hamilton. Since its creation the US Coast Guard has had a long-term positive relationship with our citizens treating them with respect and providing practical, critically important and useful services. Although the “Posse

Comitatus Act” forbids the use of the United States Armed Forces for law enforcement purposes, the US Coast Guard is not under the same restriction. It is the only armed force that has law enforcement authority. It does not need “probable cause” to initiate a law enforcement action.

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After 9/11 the USCG came under the authority of the US Department of Homeland Security forwhich is part of the US Department of Transportation. In addition to US coastal waters, the US Coast Guard has jurisdiction on any waterway in the United States that is involved with interstate commerce.

The Coast Guard is in the process of fleet modernization, with one of the newest USCG utters coming to Boston in the new future. Among its many duties, the Coast Guard is particularly sensitive and responsive to situations involving hazardous substance releases and, of course, fulfillment of its search and rescue mission. .Captain Gifford then described several specific incidents involving sunken US Military chemical weapons contamination, a ferry aground with passengers aboard, and search and rescue of a distressed sailing vessel in the mid-Atlantic. [A copy of CAPT Gifford’s power point presentation, which is most interesting, and is appended

here and we hope all recipients can open it by a double click: MOWW.pdf

]

Following the conclusion of the formal part of his presentation, CAPT Gifford and the companions engaged in a question and answer session.

Fred Maguire and Larry Willwerth then thanked CAPT Gifford for his informative presentation and presented him with an MOWW Certificate of Appreciation and a MOWW Challenge coin.

Fred Maguire announced that the next staff meeting will be held on Wednesday 21 January 2015 at the USCG Base, Boston starting at 4:30 pm.Our next Chapter meeting will be held on Tuesday 3 February 2015 at 12:00 noon at the Union Oyster House, Boston. The meeting adjourned until that date.

OUR SPEAKER AT THE 3 FEBRUARY MEETINGLTC Blaise Gallahue, the Professor of Military Science at Northeastern and commanding officer of the Liberty Battalion (consisting of ROTC cadets from Northeastern, Boston College, Suffolk University and other schools), who is heading into retirement after 26 years of active duty, will give us his reflections on his experiences. He will be accompanied by an outstanding cadet selected for the award of a perpetual membership in our chapter. LTC Gallahue’s profile follows.

Lieutenant Colonel Gallahue’s previous assignments include Aviation Platoon Leader in 1st Battalion, 223d Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, Alabama, Aero-scout Platoon Leader in 3d Squadron, 17th Cavalry and Executive Officer of an Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Company, Charlie Company 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Drum, New York, Troop Commander and Assistant Operations Officer 4th Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Aviation Staff Officer, Futures Center, Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia, Aviation Staff Officer and C3 Operations Officer, Combined Forces Land Component Command, 3d Army, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, G3 Aviation

Officer, Combined Joint Task Force 76, 10th Mountain Division, Bagram, Afghanistan, Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Multi-National Division-North, Kirkuk, Iraq, G3 Aviation Officer and Regional Airspace Manager, Combined Joint Task Force -10, Regional Command-South, 10th Mountain Division, Kandahar, Afghanistan, G3 Aviation Officer, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York. Lieutenant Colonel

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Gallahue assumed duties as the Battalion Commander and Professor of Military Science of the Liberty Battalion on July 1, 2012.

OUR SPEAKER AT THE 3 MARCH MEETING

Colonel Russell E. Smith USMCCommanding Officer25th Marine Regiment

Colonel Smith was born on Okinawa, Japan and is from Rochester, NH. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1987 and following TBS and IOC was assigned to 2d Light Armored Vehicle, Bn, 2d Marine Division, where he participated in Operation NIMROD DANCER Panama (reconnaissance for Operation JUST CAUSE) , Operation SHARP EDGE Liberia and deployed to Norway as an exchange officer with 45 Commando, British Royal Marines. In 1990 he was assigned to Recruiting Station San Diego until 1993 when he was reassigned as OIC Contact Team, 12th Marine Corps District. There he received the MCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Recruiting Procurement. In 1994 he was a distinguished graduate from Armored Officer Advance and Cavalry Leaders Courses, Ft Knox, KY. From 1995 through 1997 he served at 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, CA as a Company Commander and Operations Officer, deploying to the Combat Assault Bn, 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa Japan.

In 1997 Colonel Smith graduated from the Air War College Command and Staff Program and served as an Infantry Weapons Test Project Officer, Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity, Quantico, VA. While leading the USMC’s Y2K testing effort, he was recognized by the President’s Commission on Y2K conversion for outstanding achievement. In 2000 Colonel Smith was reassigned as Bn Executive Officer, 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn, 2d Marine Division until 2002 when he transferred to US Pacific Command as a J-3 Special Operations/STO/MARFOR Planner. In 2005 he was assigned as Operations Officer 22d MEU, until wounded by an IED in Iraq and reassigned as II MEF G-3 Training Officer during his recovery. From 2007-2009 Colonel Smith commanded 2d LAR BN deploying again to Iraq. In 2009 he transferred to the Royal College of Defense Studies, London UK, receiving the Aris Langford award for leadership and obtaining a Master Degree with Merit in International Relations from King’s College London. In 2010 he was assigned to the Capabilities Development Directorate, Headquarters Marine Corps, Quantico, VA serving as Director Fires and Maneuver Integration Division, Director MAGTF Integration Division and Director Strategic Vision Group. Colonel Smith assumed Command of 25th Marine Regiment on 01 June 2013.

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon with gold star. He is married and has two daughters.

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OUR SPEAKER AT THE 7 APRIL MEETING

MAJOR GENERAL L. SCOTT RICE

Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard

Major General L. Scott Rice is the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard; formerly he was Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Milford, Massachusetts. He also serves as Commander, Massachusetts Air National Guard and is dual-hatted as Assistant to the Commander, United States Air Forces in Europe.

General Rice was commissioned in 1980 through the Reserve Officer Training Corp program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. After graduate school, he attended pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas and received his flight wings in May 1982.

In 1989, after 9 years of active duty flying the F-111, General Rice joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard and the 104th Fighter Wing to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II, where he served as Squadron Commander, Operations Group Commander, and Wing Commander. He deployed during numerous Air Force operational conflicts since 1995, including

operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait and Iraq. He also served as Commander, Air Force Forces for United States Central Command in the Middle East Area of Operations, where he commanded F-16 units deployed to Kuwait in 2004, to Jordan and Oman in 2005, and to Pakistan in 2006.

EDUCATION:

1980 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering, Troy New York1981 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Master of Science, Industrial Engineering, Troy, New York 2000 Air War College, by correspondence2009 Harvard University, National and International Security Studies, Cambridge, Massachusetts2009 George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies, Garmish, Germany2010 George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies, Garmish, Germany2010 CAPSTONE, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, District of Columbia2011 Senior Reserve Component Officer Course, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania2011 Combined Force Air Component Commanders Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. May 1981 - May 1982, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, Texas2. May 1982 - July 1982, Student, AT-38B Lead-In Training Course, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico3. July 1982 - January 1983, Student, F-111 United States Air Force Operation Training Course, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico4. January 1983 - November 1984, Aircraft Commander, F-111, 493rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England5. November 1984 - October 1985, Instructor Aircraft Commander, F-111, 493rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England6. October 1985 - December 1985, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama7. December 1985 - May 1986, Student, F-111 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho8. May 1986 - April 1987, Chief, Weapons and Tactics/Instructor Pilot, F-111, 493rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England

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9. April 1987 - April 1988, Instructor Pilot, F-111, 391st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho10. April 1988 - November 1989, Chief, Wing Weapons Section, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho11. November 1989 - January 1992, Pilot, A-10, 131st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts12. February 1992 - December 1994, Pilot, A-10, 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts13. December 1994 - December 1995, Assistant Flight Commander, 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts14. December 1995 - June 1997, Instructor Pilot, A-10, 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts15. June 1997 - June 1998, Commander, Operations Support Flight, 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts16. June 1998 - September 1999, Commander, Operations Support Flight, 104th Operations Support Flight, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts17. June 2002 - April 2004, Commander, 104th Operations Group, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts18. May 2004 - July 2007, Director of Operations, J2, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Massachusetts National Guard, Milford, Massachusetts19. July 2007 - September 2010, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, Massachusetts National Guard, Milford, Massachusetts20. September 2010 - Present, Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Air National Guard, Milford, Massachusetts; dual hatted, February 2010 - February 2011, (A-6), Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard; dual-hatted, March 2011 - Present, Assistant to the Commander, United States Air Forces Europe

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command PilotFlight hours: 4300 Fighter HoursAircraft flown: F-111A/D/F, A-10Pilot wings from: Reese Air Force Base, Texas

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of MeritBronze StarMeritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Air Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Aerial Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)Air Force Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Air Force Achievement Medal Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with V Device, 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)Air Force Organizational Excellence AwardNavy Meritorious Unit CommendationCombat Readiness Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)Air Force Recognition RibbonNational Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)Kosovo Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalAir Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long TourAir Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border)

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Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Bronze Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 3)Air Force Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with 1 Bronze Service Star)Air Force Training RibbonNATO Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)Louisiana Emergency Service MedalMassachusetts Air National Guard Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)Massachusetts Desert Storm Service RibbonMassachusetts Defense Expeditionary Ribbon

CIVILIAN OCCUPATION: He is currently a Boeing 777 First Officer flying for United Airlines in Washington, District of Columbia.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS: 1972 Eagle Scout; 2005 George W. Bush Award for Leadership in the Guard/Reserve

A SUMMARY OF CHAPTER OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

With many new members in our Chapter, it is important to bring an awareness of our program of outreach activities to the attention of those who recently have joined us. Although we all enjoy the wonderful schedule of ten meetings per year, the schedule of impressive speakers, and the monthly newsletter issued eleven months of the year, it must be said that it is the outreach activities that are the very heart and soul of the Chapter’s – and the Order’s – purposes. And it is also important to say that the Chapter hopes that every companion who can do so will volunteer to participate, at least to some small extent, in these valuable programs. It should be self-evident that all of the programs described are of equal value and priority, and the descriptions are merely in an arbitrary order.

The Danforth Scholarship: Named in honor of the late companion CAPT Paul Danforth, the Chapter offers an annual $500 scholarship to a Boston high school student who presents the best essay on a patriotic subject. This program has for many years been administered by CDR Bob Gillen.

Girl Scout Recognition Program: The Order places a high value in the encouragement of the Boy and Girl Scout programs. The highest level of achievement is the rank of Eagle Scout in the BSA and the Gold Award for GSA. Thanks to the leadership of LTC Fred Maguire, the Chapter has a working relationship with the local organization of GSA and we give a recognition award to every Girl Scout who receives a Gold Award. Last year the Chapter presented more than 50 of those awards. Because of the shortage of volunteers, we have not been able to put a similar program in place for the Eagle Scouts, but we would very much like to reactivate this program as well.

JROTC/ROTC Awards Program: For many years this extensive and remarkable program was administered by the tireless COL Arthur Marcotti, and continues now under the leadership of CAPT Alan Rieper. Under this program, cadre members of the various JROTC and ROTC units select outstanding cadets to receive MOWW awards, which are presented at award ceremonies by our companions. Many members are surprised to learn that we support almost 30 JROTC and ROTC units located all over Eastern Massachusetts with this program.

Perpetual Memberships: Annually, a select number of outstanding ROTC cadets are awarded perpetual membership in the Order simultaneously with their commissioning. These new officers are carefully selected by the Chapter in coordination with the Professors of Military, Air and Naval Science at the local universities. LTC Walt Stamper has been a leader in this program.

Our Closest Local Organizational Associations: Our Chapter has had long-standing relationships, and, in fact, substantial overlapping membership, with the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Wardroom Club. Many companions are members and officers of one or both of those organizations, which have similar ideals to the Order. Although not quite in the same category of intimacy, our Chapter has been a constant

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supporter of, and in close contact with, the Northeastern University ROTC Alumni Association, especially in regard to commemorations held at the University’s Veterans Memorial. A number of our companions are alumni of that University and will insure that the connection will continue into the foreseeable future.

Youth Leadership Program: This is a program of patriotic education held at Norwich University over four weekends during the winter months. It is a combined effort of Norwich and MOWW and many companions participate in the instruction, notably CDR Bob Gillen, COL Larry Willwerth, Gerry Hayes and others, including some from other Chapters. The MOWW effort in recent years has evolved under the leadership of LTC Mike Jarvis of the Green Mountain Chapter (Vermont). In connection with this program, the Greater Boston Chapter offers an expense reimbursement program to parents to defray travel expenses from the Boston area to Norwich University.

Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Commissioning Ceremonies and Other Patriotic Events: Our Chapter is very proud to have among its membership leaders, organizers and prominent participants in local veterans and patriotic events. Not enough may be said to honor them for their constant efforts in support of military and citizenship education, patriotic observances, and recognition of the sacrifices of veterans. It is clear that they exert an influence far beyond their numbers.

Specific Monuments, Ceremonies and Events: Each year our companions are important participants at the Governor’s Veterans Day ceremony (CDR Bob Gillen often leads our companions in this event with CAPT Leo Lazo and CPT Al Mundo as supporters), ceremonies at Boston College (with CPT Paul Delaney as a principal organizer), at Harvard University (with CAPT Paul Mawn and LT Malcolm Hill as leaders), and at Northeastern University (with CPT Bill Maloney always very crucial in conducting the ceremonies). It need only be mentioned that Messrs. Mawn, Hill, Delaney and Maloney were crucial participants in creating new veterans monuments at their respective universities, and it must be noted that substantial fund-raising campaigns were a part of those efforts. . The exceptionally distinguished work of CAPT PaulMawn in organizing the Advocates for Harvard ROTC and bringing to the forefront the often-overlooked distinguished military service of many Harvard alumni, including 18 Medal of Honor recipients, deserves special recognition. In addition, in April of every year, CDR Bob Gillen annually represents the Order at the annual Patriots Day ceremonies at Boston City Hall, at which the mayor presides; in June Bob is a perennial leader in organizing the Bunker Hill Day Parade in Charlestown, represents the Order at the ecumenical services held in connection with Bunker Hill Day and the related procession at the Bunker Hill Monument which includes national and international participants; and Bob is also our invariable leader at the annual Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony at the Charlestown Navy Yard aboard the museum destroyer Cassin Young at which Pearl Harbor survivors, veterans groups, Gold Star mothers and wives, and citizens commemorate that event. Finally, but certainly not least in importance, is the work of our companions in representing the Order in the various local commissioning ceremonies for cadets at the major universities, among which are Harvard University, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Matters in Process: Several of our companions who were members of the National Society of Pershing Rifles when they were college students have been participating in the National Conventions of the student organization and attending the ad hoc reunions of a local group of alumni. The student group is an officially affiliated organization to MOWW. LTC Kevin Upton, a Greater Boston Chapter companion, has been elected to the board of the Pershing Rifles National Alumni Association and is working to effect closer ties among the organizations. CPT Bill Maloney, a companion who is an officer of the local Chapter 9 of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Association is also working towards the goal of establishing close relations between this the two organizations.

REMEMBERING THE GREAT WAR

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Another Local Unit Remembered: The 55th Regiment, Coast Artillery Corps

(Article and pictures reproduced from open sources)

On December 1, 1917 a new commander, Lieutenant Colonel Shedd, was assigned to the 55th Regiment, Coast Artillery Corps and assisted in organizing and equipping it to serve in France with French 155 mm longer-range guns. Three of its batteries and Supply company came from historic Massachusetts Coast Artillery National Guard, two batteries and Headquarters Company from Boston Harbor regulars, and one from Rhode Island Coast Artillery National Guard, 71 officers and 1716 enlisted men in all, sailed from New York March 25, 1918, on SS Mauritania. The entire 55th regiment was awakened at 3:30 A.M. Sunday, March 24th, 1918 to begin their march to the New Jersey Northern depot at Cresskill and entrained for the trip to the Port of Embarkation. Finally, the Regiment reached Cunard pier No. 54 where the H.M.S. Mauretania and H.M.S. Aquitania were docked. Within one hour the entire Regiment was on board the Mauretania ready for the trip across the "big pond". After the other units that were to sail boarded the 55th Regiment waited for the ship to leave port. At 5:47 P.M. on March 25th 1918 the ship gave the signal with its steam whistle and she backed away from the pier into the Hudson River. Finally, on April 2nd, 1918 at 3:00 P.M. The H.M.S. Mauretania was tied up to the quay in Liverpool, England.

Orders were received for the 55th to enter the line of battle along with the 56th Regiment. A race was on to seewhich Regiment could fire the first gun. The 56th Regiment entered the line on August 5th, 1918 while the 55th Regiment followed 24 hours later. But the 55th was in position sooner and at 12:03 P.M. on August 9, 1918 Sgt. Damon's gun, No. 1 of Battery A, the "Allie" had the honor of firing the first American shot with heavy artillery in battle. The target was a bridge across the Aisne River, far in the German rear, and over which they were expected soon to retreat. Subsequent aerial observation revealed that just five shots from the "Allie" were required to demolish the bridge. The 55th was then with the new American 3rd Corps. The 31st Brigade consisted at that time of only two regiments, the 55th and the 56th Artillery. Owing to the danger from enemy bombers, all unnecessary noise was forbidden, even bugle-calls were discontinued. Until after November 11th there would be no more reveille, mess call or taps. In October 1918 the 55th found the mud at Bois de Beuge a hard problem to overcome. Supplies and ammunition could not be brought up to the guns. Battery D tried to make a sled pulled by one of the tractors with little success. Battery C carried ammunition by hand and finally perfected a method where they used a tractor each night as a ferryboat to transport all kinds of stores. A bugler is said to have noticed the parallel between the nightly visits of the "ferry-boat tractor" and the trips of the Quartermaster boat in Boston Harbor, and one night to have greeted it by sounding "boat-call". The bugler had not foreseen that the familiar tones would arouse homesickness in the men; he had a narrow escape from being mobbed. The regimental wireless intercepted a message at 5:40 am on November 11th that the armistice was signed. The honor of the last shot fired goes to Battery F. At 10:42 the "Alky" fired her last shot at Fritz. Battery F's target was interdiction fire at a crossroads at the entrance of the town of Malandry, behind the German lines.

January 9th, 1919 found the 55th Regiment (49 officers and 1,607 men on board the H.M.S. Cretic in Brest, France. One officer celebrated by throwing overboard the muddy "articles" which he had been compelled to wear constantly for the last three months. The Cretic was commanded by W. E. Ingham and the voyage home took 13 days. The Regiment upon landing in the States went to Camp Mills at Mineola, Long Island, New York where they were "deloused". On January 29th the Regiment received the following telegram:

"The Secretary of War has this day approved the recommendation of the Chief of Coast Artillery that the following brigades and regiments be not disbanded and that they be ordered to take stations as follows; 55th, 56th, 57th Regiments to the Coast Defenses of San Francisco." February 23rd, 1919 found the regiment at Fort Scott, California. The regiment was issued twenty-four 155mm GPF guns and tractors.

The records of the 55th show that 13 men died during battle, 22 died of disease or accidents and 48 were wounded. The final tally of shots fired by the 55th Regiment was 32,678 rounds fired during the war. The "Floss" of Battery A set the high mark for the regiment by firing 2,011 shots.

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World War I Victory Medal and Verdun Medal (French Award) Awarded to Unit Members