Post 9488 November Newsletter

Posted at 10:56 AM on Monday, October 26, 2009 by post9488 in Local Post News

 

VFW OFFICERS Commander – Jeff Friar             Trustee – Alvin Jones Sr. Vice - Terry Beaver             Trustee – Earl Sechler Jr. Vice – David Watts               Trustee – Jack Kerns Quartermaster – Leo Long          Chair. House – Ken Lee Chaplain – Jerry Overman         House – Jim Hopkins Judge Advocate – Dallas Hudson House –  Butch Langley Surgeon – Skip Hunt	LADIES AUXILIARY OFFICERS President –   Colleen Sakala     Guard –  Karene Sakala Sr. Vice –  Deanna Long          Trustee – Mary Ann Richardson Jr. Vice –  Betty Morris            Trustee –  Teri Thompkins Treasurer –  BJ Rape’              Trustee –  Debbie Fox Chaplain –  Christy Railey       Patriotic Inst. –  Erin Fox Conductress –                        Secretary –  Elaine Friar

Commanders Corner:

 

Thank you to all the folks who have helped with the many recent events, from Bar-B-Q to post clean-up to decorating the post, we would not survive and thrive without our volunteers.  A special thanks to Shelia Nash who routinely feeds and entertains the usual suspects at the horseshoe.  I am proud to count you all as a part of my extended family.

 

 November will be another busy month at the post.  November 7th we will participate in the Veterans’ Day Parade.  Please meet at the post by 9:30 am to carpool to the parade.  November 11th is Veterans’ Day; at 10:30 am there will be a celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the Mecklenburg County Viet Nam Veterans’ Memorial at Thompson Park.  Then at 11:45 am there is a wreath laying downtown at the Square.  November 14th we will host the Farewell Party for 1^st Platoon of the 678^th Battalion at our Post.  November 28th we will participate in the Farewell for 2^nd Platoon at the 108^th Armory.   See the calendar for more events.

 

In November we turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving and the coming holidays.  Please come and help us support our troops as they deploy to Iraq.  Also please remember those less fortunate than we are by bringing food and school supplies to fill our donation barrels in the Canteen.

 

Please also join me in congratulating Dave Watts for his election to the position of Junior Vice Commander in our post.  Dave is very active in the events of our post and he is our future.

Jeff Friar, Commander

 

Quartermaster:

                             

If you are one of our few members who have paid your 2010 dues, congratulations and please disregard the following.  The $30 dues for year 2010 are now payable.  All VFW and Men’s Auxiliary members are required to pay dues before December 31, 2009.  It is a good idea to pay now rather than waiting until the last minute and if late, having your door card deactivated and paying an additional $5.  Consider being an active member and participate in the Post meetings, decisions and activities.

 

November 15^th is the District 13 meeting at the Monroe Post at 2:00 pm. The address is 712 VFW Road, Monroe, NC.  We hope to see many of you at the meeting.   If anyone needs transportation, contact someone or the post by Saturday afternoon. 

 

Leo Long, Quartermaster

 

House Committee:

 

We wish to give a tremendous thank you to:  Willie Barbee, David Conrad, Dallas Hudson and Bill Holloway for their hard work at the Post clean up last month.  Of course, many thanks to all who assisted with the BBQ. 

 

Our Post will again have a float entry into the Veterans Day Parade November 7^th in downtown Charlotte.  If you wish to be in the parade, arrive at the Post by 9:30 am for carpooling to the site.  At 1:00 pm we will be serving hot dogs and hamburgers to all at the Post.  At 3:00 pm join us to hear live blue grass and country music

 

November 26^th, Thanksgiving Dinner will be served at 1:00 pm for those who do not a dinner to attend.  Join your extended VFW family for outstanding food and fellowship.

 

Remember to check the calendar for many activities at the Post such as Karaoke and Movie Night; as well as other locations.  As November is the month for recognizing veterans, many things are available to veterans presenting proper ID or proof of service.  Lowe’s and The Home Depot offer discounts to vets between November 6 and 12^th.  November 8^th, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant and Applebee’s offers a special menu.  November 16^th, Golden Corral offers a special dinner meal.

 

Ken Lee, Chairman

 

Ladies Auxiliaries:

 

Thanks, thanks, thanks to all who furnished the delicious desserts for the BBQ.  It was a good fundraiser for the Auxiliary and everyone enjoyed the Great Taste!!!!!!!!

 

Ladies, prepare your favorite dessert and share it with everyone at the Post for Veterans Day lunch on November 7^th.  We hope many of you will be here at 9:30 am to be part of the parade and/or ride on our float. 

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We have been asked to assist with the deployment party on November 14^th through service and food.  Please provide munchies such as donuts, cookies, cakes, etc.  The event starts at 10:00 am through 2:00 pm with a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs.  We need help during these hours for serving as well as providing food.  Please call if you have any questions.

 

November 15^th at 2:00 pm is the District 13 meeting at Monroe Post, 712 VFW Road, Monroe, NC.  Our Department Representative is Lynn Jones and we would like to have a large number of members representing our post at the meeting.  If you need transportation, contact someone by Saturday afternoon to make arrangements for car pooling.

 

The Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen entry judging for District 13 will be at our Post on November 24^th, starting at 5:00 pm.  Anyone is welcome to hear the marvelous patriotic essay entries by our youth.

 

We hope everyone has taken advantage of their right to vote and elect candidates for many local positions.  Many of you may have voted early and avoided the lines on November 3^rd.   Don’t let others make selections for you GET OUT AND VOTE.

 

Colleen Sakala, President

 

Military Order of the Cootie Auxiliary:

 

November 8^th, the MOC and MOCA will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery.  This is just one of many ways to show our respect to veterans who served our country. 

 

We served the VA hospital patients’ dinner in October and their next dinner is December 9^th at 6:30 pm.  Plan on joining us at that time and showing appreciation to our veterans. 

 

B J Rape’, MOCA President

 

 

Post 9488 Comrade of the Quarter - Dallas Hudson

Posted at 12:46 PM on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 by post9488 in Local Post News

 

COMRADE OF THE QUARTER

                                                                                                                  

DALLAS McLEOD HUDSON

I was born in Mercy Hospital here in Charlotte, April 21^st,   1933. I have a younger brother Joe who lives in Charlotte, and is also a member of 9488, and a sister, Nancy who lives in Mint Hill. I also had a step-brother William Carl Deese who was killed at Okinawa aboard the USS Obrien 725, on March 27th 1945. The victim of a kamikaze attack. My father, Thomas, and my mother Annie are both deceased.

I married my wife Kathleen October 27^th, 1962. We have three great children, Mary Elizabeth,  Joseph,  and Kathleen Ann. The girls live here in Charlotte, and Joseph has lived in Raleigh for the past 16 years. Our children have given us three wonderful grandchildren, Maya Grace, Patrick Joseph, and Sean Michael.

I enlisted in the Navy on August 29^th, 1950, at the age of 17. At that time a parent's signature of permission was required for enlistment at that age. I had a great deal of difficulty getting my dad out of Kofinas Pub on West Trade St. on the day I enlisted. The pub was across the street from the recruiting office which was in the Post Office building on West Trade Street. I was sworn into the Navy on August 29th in Raleigh. Then on to Recruit Training Command,  Great Lakes.  Illinois  for boot camp. Upon graduating I was assigned to the Naval Air Station Norfolk Virginia, Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 102, Breezy Point. It was here I was given the USAFI GED and graduated. I was then given the opportunity to attend Aviation Machinist Class A school at NATTC Millington Tennessee, which is adjacent to Naval Air Station Memphis Tennessee. Upon graduation from this school I was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida where I was assigned to the aircraft overhaul-repair department. I remained there until the end of my first enlistment and was discharged, but after twenty-eight days I reenlisted and was sent to Fighter Squadron41 Naval Air Station, Oceana Virginia VF (fighter aircraft) 41, with the "Black Ace's". They were the first tailhook squadron on the east coast with Nuclear Weapon Delivery capabilities. While in VF 41 I served on two aircraft carriers, the USS Bennington, which blew up on May 26^th,  1954 resulting in the deaths of 103 crew members, including 7 from the VF 41. In September 1954 we were assigned to the USS Randolph. While out qualifying pilots in September 1954 the Randolph steered in hurricane Edna, which we rode out for fourteen hours.

This damaged the ship to the extent it delayed deployment to the Mediterranean until November 1954. Upon returning from the cruise I remained at Oceana until January 1956. I was then accepted into Aviation Machinist Mate School, Class B. This was a 26 week school and upon graduation I was transferred to the Naval Air Station Memphis. I remained there until August 1958 when I received orders to Utility Squadron 10, Naval Air Station at Guantanamo Bay Cuba. I served there until the end of January 1960. I decided to leave the Navy after having served nine years, four months, and five days of service.

I was discharged on February 1st 1960 at the Brooklyn Navy Receiving Station. Upon returning to Charlotte I went to work for the US Postal Service as a letter carrier for the next 28 years. I retired from the Postal Service in April 1988. I then accepted a position with Royal Insurance Company in September 1988, and retired from there in August 2000.

I am a Life Member of VFW Post 9488 and have served as Judge Advocate for the past two years. I also volunteer services at the many events held at the Post, and try to help out anywhere I can. I know of no finer VFW Post. We have great people here and do all in our powers to aid the veterans, our members, and the people in our community.

Career Service Medals:

 

·       National Defense Service Medal

·       Good Conduct Medal

·       Navy Occupation Medal. (The one I am most proud of, as it is the one that made me eligible to for membership in the VFW)

 

Post 9488 July Calendar

Posted at 06:04 PM on Monday, June 22, 2009 by post9488 in Local Post News

 

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			1 MVVA Mtg 7:00 pm	2	3	4 INDEPENDENCE DAY Flag Disposal & Lunch 1:00 pm
5	6   MOC  & MOCA Mtg 7:00 pm	7	8	9	10	11 Karaoke  7:00 pm & Pot Luck
12	13	14 American Legion Post #9 Mtg 7:00 pm	15	16	17	18 Post Clean Up 8:00 am Air Nat’l Guard Family Day
19	20 VFW Mtg 7:00 pm   40th Anniversary of Walk on Moon	21 VFWA Mtg 7:00 pm	22	23	24 Karaoke  7:00 pm & Pot Luck	25
26	27	28	29	30