JOINT SERVICE HONORS COMMAND

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1 JOINT SERVICE HONORS COMMAND Monthly Newsletter January 2014 Volume 0114 If you would like to submit a column for this newsletter, please contact the editor: SSG Susan Planas, eskrima2@gmail.com The effect of having the Honor Guard perform their solemn duties with care and precision shows how much we care for our comrades in arms, as well as for the communities and families they represent. MG Robert Ivany A New Year's Prayer Another year is dawning With the chance to start anew. May I be kinder, wiser, Lord, In all I say and do. SGT Bilko says The position of Attention is the head and eyes straight ahead, chin in, chest out, stomach in, knees not locked and the feet at a 45 angle. There is no talking. Got that!... CHAPLAIN S CORNER As we close the last chapter of the old year and begin the first chapter of the new, let us do so with a hearty "job well done" to all members of Joint Service Honors Command for the patriotic duty of providing honor for our fallen veterans and service to their families. Let us all strive to do a job of even "better done" in the coming year of services we are destined to perform. Always remember that JSHC is an elite team and the spirit with which we perform our duties makes us all part of a great family of patriots to belong to. Not so caught up in selfish gain That I would fail to see The things in life that mean the most Cost not a fancy fee. The warm, kind word that I can give, The outstretched hand to help, The prayers I pray for those in need-- More precious these than wealth. I know not what may lie ahead Of laughter or of tears; I only need to know each day That You are walking near. I'm thankful for this brand new year As now I humbly pray, My hand secure in Yours, dear Lord, Each step along the way. Kay Hoffman MAJ Jim Taylor, Chaplain Page 1

2 WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA December 15, 2013 The tradition of laying wreaths to honor our veterans during the holiday season began in 1992, when Morrill Worcester of Worcester Wreath Company (Harrington, Maine) was stuck with a number of extra wreaths at the close of the holiday season. Remembering a boyhood trip to the Nation s Capital, and the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, he donated 5,000 wreaths to be placed at the headstones of an older section of the cemetery. What began as one man s gesture has now grown into a national movement when in 2006 Wreaths Across America was formed as a nonprofit. JSHC was invited to participate in this honor at Clovis Cemetery by the laying of a wreath in front of the Army Flag, Navy Flag, Marine Flag, Air Force Flag, Coast Guard Flag and the POW/MIA Flag. We were honored to provide a rifle salute, taps and folding the American Flag. Page 2

3 They walk among Us Now days I love what I do with the JSHC to honor my fallen brothers in arms. Then, now, and into the future. The Battlefield Cross ceremony we do is deeply rooted in my heart, as I have lost many, many Army and Marine brothers then, and still now! 1SG Tommy Riccardo (Airborne Do or Die Can Do) FUNNY BUGLER STORY Don Grumblatt - Pennsylvania "In the winter of , I was serving as bugler with the Billy Simpson VFW Post #470 at Calvary Cemetery in Erie, PA. There was quite a bit of fresh snow on the ground and a lot more falling that day. While waiting for the funeral party to arrive I noticed a bunch of strange mounds in the snow. I figured they were planters that had fallen over and were now snow covered. 1SG Tommy Riccardo Combat Tour of Duty Vietnam Just turning 20 years old my orders came down for Vietnam, 1 st Cavalry 11B40. Many new experiences were to follow, some good, some bad, all very much enlightening! Depart New York very cold 4 degrees, arrive in Anhke Vietnam very hot 121 degrees!!! I left on a Tuesday and got into Vietnam on a Monday. Wow! Seems I already lost a day. Something about going across the International Dateline. Infantry machine gunner airmobile, I thought how cool, I get to fly on helicopters all day. Found out right away they only take us out to get killed or to take us back on Medivac. New York City boy in the jungle. Wow! The beautiful waterfalls, butterflies and birds. Then the snakes, lions and tigers and insects I never knew existed! Then the monsoon season, rain for weeks. The daily grind of death and destruction takes its ugly toll. I didn t want to make new buddies after a while, because in one second they could be gone. The emotional and physical scars run deep still today. The year tour in Vietnam was a very long hard one. The funeral procession arrived, and the ceremony began. The firing squad had lined up about 15 or 20 feet in front of the mounds in the snow. When the first volley was fired, those clumps of snow erupted. The second volley had geese squawking and flapping their wings. When the third volley was fired there were 30 or 40 very upset geese taking flight. The mourners had been watching the honor guard, and at first were startled, but then they started laughing... me too. Did you ever try to sound Taps while laughing? All this time the poor guys in the firing squad had no idea what had happened because the geese had been behind them. This was a first for me" MILITARY LINGO Hershey Bar: Dirt or mud dried on boots, not shined; looked like they re polished with a Hershey Bar! Turtle Farm: Holding compound for new arrivals- Camp Casey Korea. 100-mph-tape: Army OD green duct tape can be used to repair a jeep and hold up to speeds of 100 mph! Page 3

4 PATRIOTIC POEM: Revelation 7:15 17 SCPO John W. Dudek NEXT DRILL: The next drill will be on Wednesday 15 January 2014 at 7 PM at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building. Uniform is class B. I Believe, One Day Disputations between man have been present since the time of Cain and Abel. We have been warned that there will be wars and rumors of wars and that prophecy has been fulfilled to the present day. Men have not been able to live peacefully amongst themselves without minor disputes. It seems easier to gather up the youth of our nations, equip them with the tools of war and hope that the most righteous will remain standing and justify our opinion. We then are left to bury the dead and wipe away the tears of the survivors. One day I ll hear The laugher of children In a world were war has been banned One day I ll see Men of all colors Sharing words of love and compassion One day we will Open our hearts To those who need us One day I will see People of all nations Join and care and love One day I will see A day of light devour the darkness We will make a heaven on earth I believe one day we shall serve our God. 15) Therefore are they before the Throne of God, and serve him day and night: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16) They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; 17) For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them, unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. RECRUITING: The Recruiting Team will be at the Veterans Hospital on Monday 6 January 2014 from 0730 to STATISTICS: December: During this month, we completed 9 solo Honor Services and 1 Special Events, 1 in the support of the National Guard for a Total 0f 11 services for the Month of December JANUARY 2014 BIRTHDAYS: LT Conrad Bitters Capt James Canales CCMSgt Dean Harley 2 Jan 19 Jan 21 Jan WEBSITE: We have made major changes to the website. Please visit the site at Be sure to REFRESH the screens so that the changes will appear. COMMAND STAFF: Brigadier General Dean Murphy, Acting National Commander dean@middleeastconnection.org Colonel Dale Neumann, Chief of Staff, California Brigade daleneumann@att.net Colonel Ken Hendrix, Chief of Staff, National Command ken@hendrixtech.com Lieutenant Colonel Joel Hohenshelt, 1st Battalion Commander joelhohenshelt@yahoo.com Lieutenant Colonel Larry Branam, Recruiting Officer lbranam@att.net Page 4

5 Comments and Suggestions: If you wish to contact the editor, please call SSG Susan Planas at or her at YOU WILL NEED TO PRINT THIS PAGE TO WORK THE CROSSWORD PUZZLE! Page 5

6 **ANSWERS NEXT MONTH!!! JSHC 2013 CHRISTMAS PARTY Page 6