Sep 2015 commandery news 3

Hawaii Commandery THE Military Order of Foreign Wars

September 1, 2015

Table of Contents:

Vol. IV, Issue 4, Sept 1, 2015

Chaplains Corner

Commander’s Comments…………………………………………….. p. 1 Chaplain’s Corner…………………………………………………………. p. 1 Commandery in Action: June Colors Ceremony in ………..p. 2 Uniform Collection Drives - 2015….……………………………....p. 3 JROTC Instructor honored for 50 years of service ………..p. 5 Youth ChalleNGe Academy Class 14-2 MOFW Awards…. p. 5 The Decline of Volunteerism in America.……………………...p. 7 Oahu Veterans Center News…………………….…...……………..p. 9 NAUS Hawaii Chapter 1 Report.. …………………………………..p. 10 Hawaii Sea Cadets to Join Awards Program…………………. p. 11 Companion News…………………………………………………………. p. 12 New Companion Welcome………….………………………………. p. 13 POW/MIA Day 2015 …………………………………………………….. P. 14 Resolution Honoring Hawaii Commandery …………………. .p. 15 Upcoming events ………………………………………………………… p. 16

Felix Culpa: The making of life-long volunteers.

By Chaplain, LTC, Ret. John Molina How and when do we want to volunteer for anything? It will not happen just because someone asks it of us or because there is an abundance of worthy causes. How then does one become enthusiastic about volunteering? Should we volunteer for something once, twice, or consistently for the rest of our lives? This last thought reminds me of a book, which proved helpful to me by assisting me into the best physical shape of my life at age 52 while stationed in Korea with the Army. Bill Phillips titles the book Body for Life. It is a 12-week nutrition and exercise program which aims at not just losing weight and getting stronger, but more important, at transforming one's thinking and internal wiring when it comes to nutrition and exercise...it is really about embracing a way of life which "matters"!

Photo on Cover: The COMNAVREG Color Guard at the 16 July 2015 Pearl Harbor Colors Ceremony honoring the Hawaii Sea Cadets program.

Commander’s Comments.

Aloha!

Our Commandery continues to demonstrate relevance to Hawaii’s Veteran, Retired, Active, Reserve, and Cadet military communities. With direct support to Cadets and Cadet leaders, continued efforts to honor and remember our Vietnam Veterans, and the expansion of our Cadet Awards Program. Our programs garnered National level recognition from the National Council in the form of the resolution on p. 15, signed by the Commander-General at the 52d Biennial Convention.

A favorite mentor of mine says, "We don’t think ourselves into a new way of living. We live ourselves into a new way of thinking." This thought can lead us to asking some important questions, mainly "HOW DO WE FIND WHAT IS ALREADY THERE"? Sort of waking up the sleeping giant within each of us! Why isn’t it as obvious as one would think? Is there a "Center" which can be awakened or turned on; activated? Do we do it by thinking about it? By praying and meditating and by cultivating silence and solitude? By reading the right books? By listening to an inspiring motivational speaker? The fact is that, yes, perhaps by some and all of these, but mostly good things happen primarily by living— and living consciously.

Looking to the future, POW/MIA day is our next opportunity to inform our community about the history of brave deeds of the men and women of our Armed Forces, and to honor and remember those who are still missing , or who honorably endured captivity as Prisoners of War. Veterans Day will be here soon, and Volunteers are needed to honor and remember all Veterans at ceremonies at the National Cemetery of the Pacific and the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.

But learning to live "consciously" can also make us vulnerable to pain, to failure, to seeing the complexities of life and recognizing realities we may be powerless to change. So, why go there if we do not have to? Since working with a hospice non-profit organization I have learned that some 7,000 plus individuals die daily in the US. Over two thirds of these die in hospitals … (continued on p. 6)

“Deus et Libertas” COL, Ret. Arthur N. Tulak 1

Commandery in Action: June Colors Ceremony in honor of Vietnam Veterans.

The Hawaii Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars supported Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (COMNAVREGHI) & Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific in honoring Vietnam Veterans at the June 2015 Colors Ceremony at the Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. Companions greeted Veterans and their families as they entered the grounds and made their way to the seating area reserved for Vietnam Veterans, distinguished guests, and family members of Vietnam Veterans who were attending. Companions also distributed the DoD 50th Commemoration buttons and stickers to Vietnam Veterans and immediate family members.

The Hawaii Commandery was the only Veterans Organization authorized to support this event and set up a table with the 50th Commemoration Flag, Presidential Proclamation, and the 50th Commemoration Objectives poster. Vietnam Veteran and Commandery member, Lt. Col. Jim Burkholder, was seated along with other Vietnam Veterans in the reserved seating, while other members manned the table, greeting all guests, directing them to the seating area, presenting the buttons and stickers to Vietnam Veterans and thanking them.

The monthly Pearl Harbor Colors Honor and Heritage Ceremony serves to enhance the recognition and Photo: Companions distribute DoD 50th Commemoration items to preservation of military history and heritage, as well Vietnam Veterans and their families, and explain the 50th Commemas honor the sacrifice of veterans and those currently oration as visitors arrived at the ceremony. serving. Each month focuses on a different theme in military history and heritage, diversity in the military and/or recognition of significant military operations. The monthly event is run by COMNAVREGHI. The theme for the June 2015 Colors Ceremony was “Honoring Vietnam Veterans” in recognition of the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War. The event was held in coordination with the National Park Service. The Colors Ceremony featured the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, the Joint Base Honors and Ceremonies Guard, an official observance of “morning colors” (playing of the National Anthem while Old Glory is raised across all Navy and Marine installations across Hawaii at 0800 hrs daily).

Photos: The COMNAVREGHI Color Guard performed the Colors Ceremony in front of formations of active-duty Soldiers and Sailors, and the VIP seating area for Vietnam Veterans and their families.

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The guest speaker was former Navy Lieutenant Mr. Tim Guard, Chairman of the Board of the USS Missouri Memorial Association and a decorated Vietnam vet. Mr. Guard is a Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star, Navy Commendation and Navy Achievement medals and Republic of Vietnam Legion of Merit.

Mr. Guard spoke about how America treated its returning Vietnam Veterans and the challenges they still face today.

“Korea may be remembered as the ‘Forgotten War’ but Vietnam could be known as the ‘War of the Forgotten Veteran.”

Former Navy Lieutenant Tim Guard, June 19, 2015 Pacific Fleet Public Affairs estimated the count of visitors who watched the ceremony at 500 who saw at least part of the event, while waiting in lines outdoors for the Arizona Memorial Tour. Many guests at the Visitors Center were able to attend the ceremony, as they waited for their assigned time to report to the Visitor Center Theater for the introduction film. Core participation of those who stayed from start to finish was approximately 115 persons, composed of active-duty military, veterans, and family members.

Several families of Vietnam Veterans Photo: Vietnam Veteran John D. Ipper and members of the Fleet Reattended the event and explained that their serve Association show their appreciation for the DoD buttons.

Veteran was too ill to travel. These families were also provided the button and sticker to provide to the Veteran, and a Seal or Eagle pin to wear at the ceremony. In this way, we reached Veterans who, although not able to travel, would still have a memento via their family members in attendance.

Uniform Collection Drive 2015.

The Hawaii Commandery conducted two collection drives for Army Combat Uniforms for JROTC. These uniform collection drives were carried out at Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter, and Camp Smith for the JROTC programs at Waipahu and Nanakuli High Schools.

The Cadets need these uniforms for their outdoor adventure training such as Ranger Challenge and Adventure Challenge. NCOs and Officers at all installations donated their uniforms.

The 16 July collection drive provided twenty-seven uniforms for the Cadets of the Maruader JROTC Battalion of Waipahu High School. The Schofield Barracks Thrift Shop donated a large quantity as they have in the past.

Photo: Schofield Barracks Thrift Shop Manager Ms. Shannon Herrera donated dozens of uniforms for the 16 July collection drive.

The Thrift Shop has supported MOFW Uniform Collection drives since 2012 .

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The Commandery conducted a second ACU collection drive from 1-13 August. The second Army Combat Uniform Collection Drive for 2015 for the Cadets of Nanakuli High School JROTC Golden Hawk Battalion in Waianae to equip cadets for Adventure and Ranger training.

The U.S. Army Element of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), and U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) Public Affairs assisted by collecting ACU uniforms for this drive. A total of 56 complete uniforms were collected, 23 from USARPAC and 33 from PACOM.

Photo: Companion Arthur Tulak (left) and Commandery Supporter LTC Ret. Don Canaday, deliver uniforms to LTC Ret. Kent Palmer, Senior Army Instructor of Waipahu High School JROTC 16 July 2015.

Companion COL Arthur Tulak delivered the uniforms to MSG (Ret) Earl A. Sagucio. Cadet Captains Mere Jacob and Richard Carinio supervised the counting of the ACUS and organizing them for the Quartermaster Laundry for cleaning.

Volunteers will be needed to help collect and transport ACUs when the next school asks for our support.

The Army Element of PACOM and the PAO of USARPAC are ready to provide support. when the call goes out.

The Commandery would like to thank Ms. Shannon Herrera, Manager of the Schofield Barracks Thrift Shop, MSG Wayne Embry, Senior Enlisted Advisor of PACOM J3, and SSG Kyle Richardson from USARPAC PAO for their support!

Photo: MSG Earl Sagucio, and Companion Arthur Tulak stand with Nanakuli Cadets who inventoried the uniforms , C/CPT Mere Jacobs, C/CPT Richard Carinro, C/SGT Joshua Kila, C/PVT Caroline Fomai, C/PVT Marian Boene, and C/SSG Britney Benjamin. Photo taken by Cadet Jeykob Edayan, August 13, 2015 4

CSM Olivar McGuire Recognized for 50 Years of Service.

The Hawaii Commandery presented the MOFW Commendation Medal to CSM Ret. Olivar McGuire upon the occasion of his retirement after 50 years in uniform with the Army and Army JROTC. The MOFW Commendation Medal is the highest medal a State Commandery can award for service.

The medal was awarded in recognition of his service to Hawaii’s Cadets from 1994 to 2015 as an Army JROTC Instructor. After serving thirty years on active duty with the United States Army, which included two tours in Vietnam as a combat medic, CSM McGuire established two JROTC programs from the ground up at Kapa’a High School in 1994 and Waipahu High School in 2005.

Accepting the award at the annual luncheon of Hawaii's JROTC instructors was LTC Ret Kent Palmer, SAI of Waipahu High School.

Hawaii National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy Class 14-2 (Class #42).

Commander Arthur Tulak made the presentations at the Pearl City High School Auditorium on 19 June 2015. Brigadier General Arthur J. Logan, the Hawaii Adjutant General, presided over the ceremonies, supported by BG Olivera, and BG Ret. Richardson.

The Silver Academics Medal was awarded to Cadet Sara Aislin Kalene Young. Cadet Young was alsothe recipient of a $20k academic scholarship from the Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation, Inc. The Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to helping Hawaii’s youth achieve their educational and career goals by providing scholarships and other educational opportunities to Hawaii students.

The Foundation also supports local programs that create innovative change in education.

The Bronze Leadership Medal was awarded to Cadet Michael William Shea.

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Chaplain’s Corner, (continued from p. 1)

… and care facilities and only about 1,200 die at home. Howev-

er, when asked, the vast majority would rather die at home, surrounded by loved ones and others who would be able to stand by them during the last hours or days of their lives on this earth. Do I need to tell you why such an important last wish for so many is not being fulfilled? I think you can figure it out. One important and simple solution to this dilemma is when volunteers are added to the equation. Volunteers are the "good Samaritans" of this earth who take the time and step up and willingly move into challenging situations. Volunteers are those who are learning that it is more blessed (personal happiness) to give than to receive. Volunteers are those who see the need to go the "extra mile" when necessary. Volunteers are the thankful who alter someone's dreary outcome by looking out beyond personal interests but sacrifice when call to in order to promote the best interest of others less fortunate. Have you ever seen this surprising part of you come to life? How long did it last? Reliable volunteers have learned that a "lone ranger"/I feel like being nice today approach does not last, but that a cooperative team effort is necessary for the long run.

An example of vulnerability and pain here in Oahu is that one out of every six homeless persons is a veteran...with as many as 6,000 homeless individuals at any given time. Having recently worked as outreach coordinator for a non-profit veterans organization in cooperation with VA, I am aware of the limitations of manpower and resources we face in addressing the homeless problem. Yet, coordinated and organized volunteer efforts would drastically alter the landscape and alleviate the pain by providing nets of safety, dignity and care while working alongside existing agencies and groups already offering services and care. The Aloha Color Initiative is such an effort in collaboration with grassroots Island entities.

Einstein said something to the effect that we have tried to solve today’s problems with yesterday’s software—which often caused the problem in the first place. How then can we turn problems into a Felix Culpa (happy fault - to use a religious term)? In a recent book Richard Rohr talks about an awakened "unitive Spirit", which “gives us the courage and capacity to face the paradox that everything is—ourselves included. Higher levels of consciousness always allow us to include and understand more. Deeper levels of divine union allow us to forgive and show compassion toward more and more, even those we are not naturally attracted to, or even our enemies." In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus said that it takes being forgiven much for one to forgive much (knowing and owning our personal limitations, faults and needs thus not demanding of others the “perfection” we can’t expect of ourselves), and we must love much if we are to receive the love we long for not only for ourselves but for the whole world (my paraphrase of Luke 7:47-48).

You are most likely a loving person and one who likes others to think of you as a loving person. Our challenge remains for us to build a frame where our love can take a more expanded and discernable shape. We want to love widely and we should pray for the wisdom so that life will really come from our love. Loving is risky and it makes us vulnerable. Loving involves making mistakes and being wrong...it shows us that we do not have the control we want, yet that’s how wisdom is gained. Learn that pain is not to be avoided but only the fear of pain. We forgo becoming wise when we are afraid of pain. The journey is both inward (transformation) and outward (action). Do not live in a security zone and a safe midpoint of your own making where you avoid personal commitment to the social issues of our time. My favorite mentor has taught me that "Failure and falling short are the best teachers; success has practically nothing to teach on the spiritual path...action never allows us the illusion of control, at least not for long".

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The Decline of Volunteerism in America

by COL Arthur N. Tulak, Ret. As an organization of volunteers, Companions of our Order take pride in their volunteering efforts in the community through our signature programs that honor and remember Veterans, and provide support and encouragement to our ROTC, JROTC, Civil Air Patrol and Youth Challenge Academy Cadets. Volunteering is hard work, because it usually comes on top of an already busy work schedule. The burden of volunteering in American has for the last several decades been carried by our now rapidly shrinking population of World War II-era Veterans and patriots. As this philanthropic group continues to decline, the veterans’ community is experiencing a marked downward trend in volunteerism. As an example, between 2009 and 2014, the Veterans Affairs Volunteer Services lost nearly 15,000 volunteers and 1.5 million volunteer hours.1 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics In 2013, the volunteer rate was 25.4 percent, or 62.6 million people, compared with 29 percent of the population in 2003 – a nearly 5% drop. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics In 2013, the volunteer rate was 25.4 percent, or 62.6 million people, compared with 29 percent of the population in 2003 – a nearly 5% drop. There are different figures to measure volunteering, and the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) reported an even lower figure for the 2013 national volunteering rate in America at 22.6% According to the CNCS report, Hawaii ranks our State 44th among the 50 states and Washington, DC.2 To be counted as volunteer in the survey which provided the figures, the respondent need only have provided some help or assistance to a neighbor to be counted as a volunteer. Therefore the numbers of volunteers who regularly engage the community is likely far lower.

The most recent aggregate statistics on volunteering in Hawaii are from 2013, at which time the State could boast 232,560 volunteers, which must service a population of 1,420,000. This means that only 16% of Hawaii residents do any volunteer work at all. The Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) reported that for 2013, out of 13 categories, volunteering to mentor Youth fell behind academic tutoring, fundraising, general labor, food drives, and “other.” Support of Veterans was not a recognized category in the CNCS report, and may be lumped in with “other.”

In the active military, volunteering is getting losing its place as a component part of the professional military ethos. This is due in part to an overly legalistic limitation on associations with Private Volunteer Organizations that have increasingly restricted access for PVOs to with Private Volunteer Organizations that have increasingly restricted access for PVOs to operate on military bases, support unit and installation programs. The same legalistic perspectives have curbed the appetite among military and civilian leaders to support Veterans Organizations, professional military associations (like the Assn of the United States Army, the Air Force Association, etc.). This can be seen in the precipitous drop in PVOs authorized to operate on Army and Navy bases in Hawaii as regulations are increasingly imposing requirements that effectively bar PVOs from gaining permission to come onto military installations to perform service in support of the Active Military Community.

This unwarranted legalistic caution and anxiety over engaging with PVOs is now reflected in recent Air Force policies that formerly promoted the “whole person concept” of a military professional who is a contributing member of society. Under the new Air Force personnel policy volunteer activities are no longer considered for promotion or retention. 3

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Who are the volunteers who are making a difference in their community?

The most active volunteers appear to be 35-44 year old females who are working. Women continued to volunteer at a higher rate than did men across all age groups, educational levels, and other major demographic characteristics. By age, 35- to 44-year-olds were the most likely to volunteer (30.6 percent). Volunteer rates were lowest among 20- to 24-year-olds (18.5 percent). For persons 45 years and older, the volunteer rate tapered off as age increased.4 In her article on volunteering, Ms. Kurtzleben reported that those who are no longer in the work force have lower rates of volunteering than their employed counterparts, but those who did volunteer last year gave more of their time with an average of 65 hours annually. These are likely the retired members of that segment. Full-time-employed Americans volunteered for a median of only 44 hours, which was 6 hours lower than the median for all volunteers.5 What does the decline of volunteerism in America mean for the Hawaii Commandery?

It means that your volunteer efforts are very important and fills a critical need. The companions of the Hawaii Commandery lead the way in demonstrating citizenship and patriotism through volunteering in our signature programs, namely, direct support to JROTC units, support of ROTC, JROTC, Civil Air Patrol awards programs, activities in support of the 50th Commemoration of the Vietnam War and others. In the June 2015 issue of the Commandery News, Companions were asked to register with the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program, so that the Commandery can recognize your volunteering efforts, and to measure our collective contribution to the community. Please take the time to register and to record your volunteer hours and pitch in when the call is sent out to volunteer!

End Notes: 1. Disabled American Veterans: DAV Magazine March/April 2015 issue, p. 22 2. http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/HI 3. See remarks of Brig. Gen. Brian Kelly, the director of military force management policy, NAUS watchdog June 26, 2015, 4. Paul Clolery, “Troubling Numbers In Volunteering Rates, The Non-Profit Times, February 27, 2014.

5. Danielle Kurtzleben, “Volunteering Hits Lowest Rate in More Than 10 Years: Americans are volunteering less than they have in over a decade, but why is unclear,” U.S. News and World Report, Feb. 26, 2014.

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Oahu Veterans Center News The Oahu Veterans Council met on 27 June and 25 July. Companion Tulak represented the Commandery. Also in attendance at the 27 June meeting was Companion, Congressman Mark Takai who makes the effort to attend these meetings when he is onisland. At the 27 June meeting, the HI Commandery proposed From left to right: Companion and Congressman Mark that the member organizations should have their flags on dis- Takai; Ms. Ann Greenlee Governor’s Veterans Advisory Board Member; COL Tulak, and; Orlando “Nalu” Perez, play in the small meeting room, so that we have a visual reVietnam Veterans of America, at the 27 June meeting minder that the center is home to twenty-seven Veterans organizations. With the completion of the expansion that doubles the size of the Center, there is now room enough for a more permanent presence and visible sign that it was built for Veterans and is the home to many veterans organizations. Other Veterans organizations, to include the Vietnam Veterans of America and MOWW, also supported the proposal.

At the 25 July meeting, it was announced that the Fleet Reserve Center is now the location of Mom’s Soul Food, which serves lunch daily. To continue operating he Fleet Reserve Center is required to purchase the land on which the center was built from the Navy for $900,000. To support this effort—go eat at Mom’s!!

Following the 25 July OVC meeting, the official blessing, dedication, and opening of the new wing marked a major milestone for the Oahu Veterans Center.

Ms. Jenny Chanko, Executive Director of the OVC, was the mistress of ceremonies. The event concluded with a buffet for the many representatives from the member organizations, and political leaders, to include , Aaron Ling Johanson, member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, representing Aiea, Moanalua, Foster Village and Fort Shafter in Honolulu County.

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Our Hawaii Affiliate: Hawaii Post 1, National Association of the Uniformed Services.

By Denis Egge The National Military/Veterans Alliance, (NAUS is a principle delegate), met 17 August. Here are the major topics discussed at the meeting, along with the recommended immediate courses of action that we are encouraged to pursue: 1. As NAUS national leadership has been highlighting for months, the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission’s recommendation to change the current retirement system will be implemented and will be codified in law when it is included in the pending NDAA. The question is how it will be implemented.

In short, the new retirement plan will reduce the current stipend received after 20 years of service from 50% of base pay to 40% of base pay and instead incorporate a 401K like Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) under which the government would match member contributions up to five percent of basic pay. It is believed that this investment option will more than make up for the reduction in the 20 year stipend.

Lawmakers were urged by several VSO's to reconsider reducing the current stipend and seek funding for the “blended” plan elsewhere. This would provide those who serve long enough to retire with peace of mind by knowing that, regardless of shifts in the market or economic downturns, they would be guaranteed a minimum of 50% of their base pay in retirement while still providing those who serve less than 20 years with a financial package upon leaving military service.

While VSO positions were not fully incorporated, the House did compromise by modifying the Commission’s recommendation in its version of the NDAA to allow government matching to continue beyond 20 years and by also adding 2% to the retirement stipend for each year served after 20 years—two aspects of the “blended” plan that were not originally included. Thus, the new plan would keep a 50% retirement stipend in place for those who retire after serving 25 years versus 20 years.

However, the Senate version of NDAA does not include this compromise language and instead insists that government TSP contributions end at 20 years of service.

2. Congressman Walz and Senator Boozman’s legislation, the Honor America’s GuardReserve Retiree Act, has not survived the NDAA reconciliation process. However, we have learned that Senator Boozman is going to attempt to have this legislation included as an amendment to a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee omnibus bill that will be introduced when lawmakers return to Washington in September. The Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act would grant legal “veteran” status to Guard and Reserve retirees who were never activated for other than training purposes during the course of their careers.

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Hawaii Commandery Extends Awards Program to Hawaii Sea Cadets The Hawaii Commandery’s Cadet Awards program is already one of the best in Hawaii, awarding the Silver Academics and Bronze Leadership medals to each ROTC and JROTC unit in Hawaii, as well as programs in Guam and Japan. The Hawaii Commandery is one of two Veterans organizations presenting medals to the Hawaii National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy and the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. The Commandery is now working out with US Naval Sea Cadet Corps (UNSCC) Battleship Missouri - Hawaii Division, on the

details to expand the Commandery Cadet Awards program to include the Hawaii Sea Cadets. ENS Edward "Eddie" Barinque, USNSCC Public Affairs/Recruiting Officer is our point of contact. The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps provides critical mentorship, training, and leadership opportunities to young people, enabling them to reach their fullest potential. Chartered by the US Congress in 1958, the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) is for American youth ages 13-18 who have a desire to learn about the Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. Sea Cadets are authorized by the Secretary of the Navy to wear Navy uniforms appropriately marked with the Sea Cadet Corps insignia. The objectives of the Photo: ENS Barinque at the head of a formation of Sea CaSea Cadet program are to introduce youth to dets at the 16 July Pearl Harbor Colors Ceremony in honor of the Hawaii Sea Cadet Division. Photo by COL (R) Arthur Tulak. military life, develop in them a sense of pride, patriotism, courage, and self-reliance, and to maintain an environment free of drugs and gangs.

The Hawaii Commandery supported the July Pearl Harbor Colors Ceremony, on 16 July honoring the Hawaii UNSCC programs, which provided an opportunity to see these future leaders. The Sea Cadets present in formation represented the more senior Cadets. Companions will be needed to volunteer to present our Leadership medal when the dates for the awards ceremonies are set.

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Companion News Companion, LTC John J. Gobrick completed his successful command of the 196th Infantry Brigade Support Battalion and is now attending the Air War College in Birmingham, Alabama which he had deferred until after Battalion Command.

Companion Gobrick began his commissioned service as a Second Lieutenant on May 2, 1992 from the ROTC program at Keuka College in New York. John has served with distinction in maintenance, regional support, and theater sustainment units as a Logistics Officer, all leading to his selection for command of the Support Battalion, 196th Infantry Brigade located at Fort Shafter Flats.

Companion Gobrick was admitted to the National Order and inducted into the Hawaii Commandery on 27 February 2014. John entered as a Veteran Companion on his qualifying service in combat tours to Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II in 2005 and 2006. As a Major, Companion Gobrick served in Iraq from November 2005 through July 2006., and later and deployed to Haiti as part of U.S. Humanitarian Operations for a two month deployment in February and March of 2010.

Companion Gobrick received a Masters of Science Degree from Elmira College New York in 1997, and completed the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 2009.

Following his promotion to LTC in March 2013, Companion Gobrick was assigned as the Commander of the Support Battalion, 196th Infantry Brigade, Fort Shafter Hawaii on May 13, 2013.

On 9 June 2015, LTC Gobrick handed over command of the Battalion to LTC Fletcher V. Washington, at the historic Palm Circle on Fort Shafter. Representing the Commandery at this important event was Companion Tulak, who presented Companion Gobrick with his MOFW ribbon insignia.

At the end of June, Companion Gobrick, his wife Dawn and children John Jr. , Mark, and Timothy (ages 12, 9, and 4 years respectively) bid adieu to Hawaii for a tour at Maxwell Air Base, a 101 mile drive north of Fort Benning GA. Companion Gobrick was a great volunteer for the Cadet In formation on the parade grounds at Palm Circle, LTC Gobrick passes the Battalion Colors to COL Scott Mitchell, symbolizing the end of his command.

Awards program, supporting the annual awards ceremonies at McKinley and Moanalua High Schools, as well as a member of the judging panel for the Commandery’s 50th Commemoration of the Vietnam War Cadet Essay Contest.

Despite relocating to Alabama, Companion Gobrick will remain a member of the Hawaii Commandery!

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Welcome New Companions!

LTC, Ret. Curtis A. “Manny� Manchester was admitted into the National Order and Hawaii Commandery on 1 July 2015. Companion Manchester served as an Infantry Officer 1984-1996 and as a Civil Affairs (CA) Officer from 1997-2012.

His operational deployments includes two tours to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (Tikrit, Irbil, Baghdad, and Mosul, Iraq) 2005-2006 and 20102011. During his tours in Iraq, LTC Manchester was assigned or attached to 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions, 445th Civil Affairs Battalion, 42nd Infantry Division, 101st Infantry Division, 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, and the Counter Insurgency Center for Excellence. LTC Manchester also deployed in 2007 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM PHILIPPINES with Joint Special Operation Task Force Philippines (Zamboanga, Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines); attached to at various times with ; Operation Unified Assistance (East Timor) 2001 with United States Support Group East Timor; Operation Unified Assistance (East Timor) 2000 with United States Support Group East Timor. LTC Manchester Finished his career on Active Service as the Disaster Management & CMO Planner with the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance (COE DMHA). (2011-2012).

Companion Manchester now works as a Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) Analyst in the MARFORPAC Exercise Branch of the G3.

Mr. Adam Gaines Hereditary Companion, transferred from the D.C. Commandery to the Hawaii Commandery on 1 August 2015. Companion Gaines was admitted to the National Order and the DC Commandery in 2014 as a Hereditary Companion based on the qualifying service of his 6th great grandfather, Captain Isaac Warren, 2nd Massachusetts Regiment ,who served in D. Brewer's Regiment, was transferred to the 13th Continental Infantry in 1776, then was transferred to the 2nd MA Regt in 1777 where he spent the duration of his service, dying on active duty in Valley Forge.

Companion Gaines hails from Leamington, Ontario, Canada and is a devoted genealogist. He has earned 2 Professional Learner's Certificates in Genealogical Studies from the University of Toronto. He has one certificate in Canadian Records and the second on American Records.

Companion Gaines became interested in Genealogy in 2006 when he discovered that his 3rd great grandfather (who was also Canadian) had served in the Civil War in a Michigan Regiment. Companion Gaines serves as the Genealogist for both Michigan Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Camps, National Genealogist for the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and RegistrarGenealogist for the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. Companion Gaines has volunteered to serve as the Hawaii Commandery Genealogist to assist other Candidates applying for Hereditary Companionship in the MOFW. 13

POW/MIA Day 2015 National POW/MIA Recognition Day will be observed on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. This annual event honors our missing service members and their families, and highlights the government’s commitment to account for them. Across the country, local POW/MIA ceremonies are encouraged throughout POW/MIA Recognition Week, culminating with countless events and the national ceremony in Washington, DC, on Recognition Day. Support for these missing Americans and their families is deeply felt. America’s POW/MIAs should be honored and recognized, rather than memorialized, with the focus on continuing commitment to account as fully as possible for those still missing. Strong, united support by the American people is crucial to achieving concrete answers.

The Hawaii Commandery observes POW/MIA by flying the POW/MIA flag and setting up an information table to get the word out to the Military Communities we serve. Volunteers are needed for this operation on Sept 18, 2015 at the Navy Exchange Pearl Harbor from 09001530.

The view from the Commandery Meeting at Schooner’s Restaurant on 26 June. Come and join us at the next meeting on 17 September at the Green Tree Café on Ford Island for lunch and camaraderie.

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Upcoming events:         

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6 September—German-American Day 11 September— Patriot Day, General Pulaski Day. 15 September—50th Commemoration of the Vietnam War Planning Committee Meeting at The OVC 1300 17 September Pearl Harbor Colors Ceremony, 0730-0830, USS Arizona Visitor Center.

17 September—Constitution Day 17 September— Commandery meeting—Location Green Tree Cafe.

18 September—Birthday of the U.S. Air Force 18 September—POW/MIA Day— Information Table at the NEX Pearl Harbor 0900-1500 19 September Retiree Appreciation Day, Nehelani Banquet Center, Schofield Barracks.

For more information call the Retirement Services Office at (808) 6551458 /1585 13 October—Birthday of the U.S. Navy 8 November— Veterans Observance at the Hawaii WWI Memorial—Natatorium 10 November—Birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps 11 November —Veterans Day 18 December — Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduation and awards 16

Military Order of Foreign Wars Hawaii Commandery Oahu Veterans Center 1298 Kukila Street Honolulu, HI 96818