A MESSAGE FROM OUR President, Terry (TJ) Johnson January 2019

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR President, Terry (TJ) Johnson January 2019 First off, I would like to thank Marvin Decker for organizing a very successful Christmas Party.

There are pictures inside of our Member of the Year, Randall Jansen (VVA Chapter 731 Chaplain) and our Advocate of the Year, Kathy Muench (Owner of Boelter's Jewelers and long time supporter of our

1 A MESSAGE FROM OUR President, Terry (TJ) Johnson January 2019 First off, I would like to thank Marvin Decker for organizing a very successful Christmas Party. We all seemed to have a good time and enjoyed each other's company. Thank you to Tom Lavey for donating the $100 that was used for four $25 door prizes. There are pictures inside of our Member of the Year, Randall Jansen (VVA Chapter 731 Chaplain) and our Advocate of the Year, Kathy Muench (Owner of Boelter's Jewelers and long time supporter of our Chapter). They are both deserving of their awards. Some big and exciting news, announced at both the December meeting and the Christmas party, is that Chapter 731 has been selected to be one of the 34 hosts across the United States in 2019 for "The Wall that Heals". The wall is a 3/4-size replica of the Vietnam Memorial. It also has an education component as the sides of the 53 foot trailer open up to display historical information about the Vietnam War, those local young men who were killed in the war, and information about the wall itself, including artifacts. This is the wall that was in Crivitz over Labor Day Weekend in It will be coming to Manitowoc in September. Its arrival date is September 10, 2019 and the exhibit dates are September 12-15, The display will be set up on the EXPO grounds. The EXPO approved waiving the rental fees for the grounds for this exhibit. Then it was taken to the County Public Works Committee, which had the final say. This Committee also approved waiving the rental fees. We are hosting this 20 years after we brought The Moving Wall to Manitowoc. We will need lots of help in the future with this project. We need to raise $10,000 just to get it here plus additional funds for other expenses. Plus, we will need lots of volunteers the week that it is on display! Next regular meeting is 6:30 pm, Thursday, January 3rd, at AMVETS Post 99, 4310 Conroe St., Manitowoc. If you see a $ next to your name on your mailing label, please pay your dues. If the $50 lifetime membership fee is a hardship, please contact John Salzman about Chapter assistance.

Veteran Help Agencies VVA Chapter 731 Officers President (TJ) Terry Johnson 920-645-3566 Vice President Marvin Decker 920-973-6945 Secretary Bill Wojta 920-682-2465 Treasurer Harold Olson, Jr.

Wanek 920-682-1127 2019-2020 Ken Wentker 920-755-2386 2020-2022 Mike Laughrin 920-686-0724 Bill Pike 920-901-0298 Committee Chairpersons Color/Honor Guard Tom Hoffman 920-682-5073 Education

org Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, Press 1 Or Text to 838255 Manitowoc County Veterans Service Office: 920-683-4055 1701 Michigan Ave.

Ave, Green Bay Aging and Disabilities Resource Center (ADRC): 920-683-4180 1701 Michigan Ave., Manitowoc Upcoming Events SCHOOL VISITS - None scheduled at this time.

2 Veteran Help Agencies VVA Chapter 731 Officers President (TJ) Terry Johnson Vice President Marvin Decker Secretary Bill Wojta Treasurer Harold Olson, Jr Past President Ken Decker Sergeant-at-Arms Peter Schramm Chaplain Ran Jansen Board of Directors Ron Wiesner Dave Wanek Ken Wentker Mike Laughrin Bill Pike Committee Chairpersons Color/Honor Guard Tom Hoffman Education Tom Hoffman Finance & Audit Harold Olson, Jr Fund Raising Dale Schroeder Membership John Salzman PR/Newsletter Cathy Karl Marietta Johnson Scholarship Dick Luchsinger Legislative Tim Thiers Get Well/Thank You Donna Franz Find information at our website: Veterans Crisis Line: , Press 1 Or Text to Manitowoc County Veterans Service Office: Michigan Ave., Manitowoc Cleveland Community Based VA Clinic: or North Ave, Cleveland VA Health Care Clinic (Green Bay): or University Ave, Green Bay Aging and Disabilities Resource Center (ADRC): Michigan Ave., Manitowoc Upcoming Events SCHOOL VISITS - None scheduled at this time. Expect a phone call if any are scheduled before the January Meeting January 30th SOUP For VETS! NOON at Elks Lodge # N. Rapids Rd. Manitowoc FREE to Vets, Guests $2.00 Soup, rolls, beverage & desserts Reservations: Bus Trip to South Dakota May 13 - May 19 More info is in this newsletter. If you have taken a recent bus trip, letters were sent in early December. The Wall That Heals Exhibit at EXPO Grounds: Sept Arrives Tuesday, Sept. 10th

3 VVA Chapter 731 General Membership Meeting 12/06/2018, 6:30 pm Call to order: Ron Wiesner Pledge of Allegiance: TJ Prayer: Ran Jansen New Member: Bud Rhoden, USN. Welcome Home! Minutes: The November minutes were approved as printed. Correspondence included a Christmas card to the Chapter from recently deceased member Don Ratzlaff's former wife Pat and daughter, Alex. Treasurer's Report: Harold Olson Jr. read the Treasurer's Report. Harold also shared information about a free Christmas Dinner from Two Rivers High School students. Vice President: Marv Decker spoke of the upcoming Christmas Party. Tom Lavey donated $100 to be used as door prizes at the Party. Thank you, Tom! The money will be given as four $25.00 prizes. State Council: Mike Demske discussed life membership. He also discussed the goal of raising $200,000 for an endowment fund to keep the eternal flame lit. He discussed Blue Water legislation bill HR299. President's Report: TJ told us that our Chapter was chosen to host "The Wall that Heals" a 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. It will arrive at EXPO grounds on September 10, 2019 and will be on exhibit from September 12- September 15, Color Guard: Tom Hoffman - Past events - 11/10, MCUVC Banquet. 11/11, Fire at Memorial. 11/12, Program for veterans at Harmony Harbor View Assisted Living. 11/13, Morning Rotary. 11/15, Manitowoc Realtors banquet ($100 donation to Chapter). 11/21, Manitowoc Christmas parade. Education: Tom Hoffman spoke of a Past event: 11/09 Spoke at Lincoln High School one homeroom. Upcoming event: 12/07 one class at Mishicot. Scholarship: Dick Luchsinger reported that the applications are out at the schools. Old Business: Tom Hoffman reported that letters have been sent out and the trip is to South Dakota May 13-19, See Tom for more information or check the Commo Bunker in January. Tom Hoffman reported that the Eternal Flame Committee was chosen to be a recipient of some of the funds raised by the Ant Hill Mob at its annual spring dance. The other recipient is the St. Nazianz Fire Dept. The Committee will be looking for people to help volunteer at the dance. Also related to the Eternal Flame fundraiser, groups of marketing students at LTC are designing marketing tools to help with the flame. Tom will report how that is going at the next meeting. George Gottier reminded us that we are ringing bells at two sites on Saturday, December 15th. Please show up for your slotted time. New Business: Ken Wentker gave the Raffle Report. It was VERY successful. Thank you to the Wentkers for all of their hard work! There were approximately 3,595 tickets in the drawing for a gross total of $11,234. Expenses for printing tickets and posters as well as the $500 in prize money brought expenses to $ This gives a profit of $10, There is a housing program for homeless vets through the VA in Green Bay called VHRP (Veterans Housing and Recovery Program). Roy Tegen announced that a new bar, "Salute", in Manitowoc at the site of the former "Skinny Dip Inn" on South 10th St. is supportive of Vets. TJ asked that everyone who has Chapter items at their homes to please take inventory and get everything written down including serial numbers where appropriate. Dale Schroeder brought up the idea of building a storage building to house our stuff. Ron Wiesner went through all the by-law changes that the By-law Committee is recommending. All changes were suggested and discussed. All changes were voice voted and approved. New by-laws will be posted on the website and printed for members who want a copy. Adjourn raffle was won by Honest Dave Wanek. (He drew his own number...go figure!) Submitted by, William Wojta, Secretary

4 VVA Chapter 731 South Dakota Tour May 13 - May 19, 2019 The trip will be with Bay Bus again. Breakfasts and some other meals included. Some of the sites we will see include: Calling all those interested in being part of the planning committee for the exhibit on Sept , 2019 There will be an initial organizational meeting after the January 3rd VVA meeting. Please plan to attend the meeting and stay for a short while afterwards. Between now and then, think of any businesses, organizations or individuals who would be potential sponsors. Particularly, think of those that you may have a personal connection to. Bring any ideas and information to the meeting on January 3rd. Bob Hope is Still Missing! Whoever borrowed Donna Franz's DVD of Bob Hope's Troop Christmas Shows, please call her and get it back to her. (920) May 13: Leave Manitowoc 6:00 am. Spam Museum in Austin, MN May 14: Redlin Art Center, Minuteman Missile Historic Site Visitor Center May 15: Black Hills Gold Factory, Bear Country drive through, 1880 Train to Hill City, Naked Winery May 16: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Fort Hays Chuckwagon dinner and western music show May 17: Free day to explore Deadwood May 18 : Visit Wall Drug. Drive through the Badlands with photo stops. May 19: Arrive home around 6:00 pm Cost: $895 per person double occupancy. $100 is due on sign up and rest due by April 15, Checks are to be made out to Bay Bus. Get sign up sheet from Tom Hoffman. Indicate if you want one king or two queen beds. Contact Tom for details. Tom's number is on page 2 of this Commo Bunker. Check along with sign up sheet needs to be returned to Tom Hoffman, 4564 Harvest Circle, Manitowoc, WI Remember... And keep them in your thoughts and prayers: * Our members & their families receiving care * Our homebound and nursing home residents & their caregivers * Our widows & widowers and all who have lost loved ones * Our special friends & their families

5 Veterans Housing and Recovery Program Green Bay The State of Wisconsin, Department of Veterans Affairs has some housing available for Veterans who are interested in participating in the above program. If you know someone who would be interested in this program, please have them call to get more information. They will need to fill out a VHRP application. There were some vacancies at the time of our December meeting, but that can change quickly. Some Interesting 2018 Raffle Facts 4000 tickets printed ~3595 tickets sold 100 plus ticket sellers: Ken Wentker, Roy Tegen, Wayne Huske, Harold Olson, Gordie Strauss, Dale Post, Dale Schroeder, Dennis Scherer, Gene Erdman, Mike Laughrin totaling 1,847 tickets for $6365 Fall Festival Sellers--Harold Olson, Mike Laughrin, Marv Decker and Ken Wentker sold 358 tickets for $ tickets for $650 were sold through the Commo Bunker Total Sales: $11,234, Expenses: $ Profit: $10, Looking for: All VVA Chapter 731 Members of the Year and VVA Chapter 731 Associate Members of the Year If you have been a VVA Chapter 731 Member of the Year or VVA Chapter 731 Associate Member of the Year or if you recall individuals who have received either of these awards, please call Terry Johnson and leave a message at: or him at: electromath1991@gmail.com. Information needed: Name and year or years of the award and whether it was Member of Year or Associate Member of the Year. Terry would like to create a reference list. Please get this information to him ASAP. Thank you for your help!

(905-5951) X X X X Chris Wagner (684-1680) X X X X Ron Wiesner (682-0770) X X X X Charlie Wilsmann (755-4220) X X X X Mike Demske (684-1624) X X X Dave Wanek (682-1127) X X X Paul Francisco

6 Member Have an Appointment? Need a Ride or some company? Call one of these Chapter 731 Member Volunteers: Cleveland Milwaukee Green Bay Appleton Tom Hoffman ( ) X X X X Mike Laughrin ( ) X X X X Kent Reeves ( ) X X X X Tim Thiers ( ) X X X X Chris Wagner ( ) X X X X Ron Wiesner ( ) X X X X Charlie Wilsmann ( ) X X X X Mike Demske ( ) X X X Dave Wanek ( ) X X X Paul Francisco ( ) X X Harold Olson ( ) X X Ken Wentker ( ) X X Reuben Zimmer ( ) X X Dick Luchsinger ( ) X X VA VETERANS CRISIS LINE CALL: (Press 1) VA's Veterans Crisis line has answered over 1,625,000 calls. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It has sent over 45,000 rescues to assist callers with emergency services. It has provided over 261,000 referrals to local facility Suicide Prevention Coordinators. The Crisis Line has as its goal to provide immediate crisis intervention. Other means to use the Crisis Line include: Text the Crisis Line at Visit the website: Congratulations to our Award Recipients at the Annual Party, December 8th Member of the Year-Ran Jansen with President, Terry Johnson Advocate of the Year-Kathy Muench with Vice President, Marvin Decker

WE REMEMBER THOSE WE LOST IN January FROM OUR COUNTY IN THE VIETNAM WAR... Todd R. Jackson, CPL, Army, Manitowoc, January 30, 1968 William C. Behrens, SGT, Army, Two Rivers, January 31, 1968 James M.

Gauthier, SGT, Army Manitowoc, January 20, 1970 Marvin Gaye's "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" was at Number 1 for the entire month of January of 1969! Events you might remember.

7 WE REMEMBER THOSE WE LOST IN January FROM OUR COUNTY IN THE VIETNAM WAR... Todd R. Jackson, CPL, Army, Manitowoc, January 30, 1968 William C. Behrens, SGT, Army, Two Rivers, January 31, 1968 James M. Gahagan, SGT, Army, Cleveland, January 17, 1969 Barry C. Kellenbenz, 2 nd LT, Army, Manitowoc, January 19, 1969 James R. Knox, SP4, Army, Newton, January 21, 1969 Gerald A. Gauthier, SGT, Army Manitowoc, January 20, 1970 Marvin Gaye's "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" was at Number 1 for the entire month of January of 1969! Events you might remember... January 2- Operation Barrier Reef begins in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam January 7 - US Congress doubles president salary from $100,000 (1949) to $200,000 January 9 - First trial flight of Concorde in Bristol, England January 18 - Expanded 4 party Vietnam peace talks began in Paris January 20 - Richard M Nixon inaugurated as US president January 25 - US-North Vietnamese peace talks begin in Paris January 28 - OJ Simpson from USC first pick in NFL Draft by Buffalo Bills January 30 - Beatles perform their last live gig, 42 minutes on the roof of Apple Corps HQ in London Amplified Captioned Phone Service... Although we do not recommend services to our members, if this is of some interest to you, we have been contacted about phone and captioning service provided at no cost through a federally funded program. The representative wanted to speak at a meeting, but we said that we would prefer to just give you the information. The information she ed us indicates that you do need a home phone service, high-speed internet and a verified hearing loss to qualify for the service. For more information call Sharli Mockus at You can also find more information at clearcaptions.com.

8 AVVA Life Membership Contact John Salzman (920)

A MESSAGE FROM OUR President, Terry Johnson January 2018

A MESSAGE FROM OUR President, Terry Johnson January 2018 The Christmas Party was extremely well attended. Bill Wojta emailed the following to me for addition in the minutes, but it was after the meeting,