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A look inside...
Nashville Mural Hunt
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Out and About in Hopkinsville
Editor Nathan Bonar
Contributors Dave Marshall Rose Pollard Theodore Faulkner
Publisher Creative ink
Creative Director Sears Hallett
Advertising
Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com
Photography Paula Hallett visithopkinsvilleky.com mixthatdrink.com Kelsey Montague
New Gold Standard
FEDVIP - Voluntary Vision & Dental Benefits
Reviews of Books Written by Veterans
The murals of Nashville are taking on a legend of their own. We give you some samples of the public art and information on how to develop your own plan to seek out these amazing murals. We also take a moment to update our readers on some upcoming changes to federal regulations such as IDs. If you plan to travel next year, then plan a day to beat that DMV headline, so you can be on the Gold Star standard. In additon we have information on the FEDVIP program, what it means to you and your family and how you can enroll. We get to visit Eagles of War and sit down with my new friend Albert Goulet. He tells it like it is, and what a remarkable history he has in the area. A book review in this issue gives us some good reading and thinking material. Also, in this issue we hear our last words of the “Semper Fi� series that has been running in the last couple issues. Not only do we present some great history on Hopkinsville, but we give you some of the best spots to check out for food and entertainment.
Nathan Bonar, Editor nathan@creativeinktn.com
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With retirement often comes more free time. One of the best things about living in this area is how close we are to the booming city of Nashville. Not only does it offer great food and music, but it also has beautiful art pieces painted around town. These popular murals are great photo opportunities that are just waiting for you to discover them. Get out and go on a mural hunt. It is a great and memorable experience.
The Gulch One of Nashville’s most popular murals, the “Wings Mural” is plastered all over Instagram accounts everywhere. The beautiful art piece lets you grow huge 20-foot tall angel wings instantly. Created by Kelsey Montague, this piece can be found on 11th Avenue South, near Biscuit Love. Another great mural in this area to stop by and admire is the blue and green fantasy created by Ian Ross from San Francisco. This masterpiece is located just across the street from the “Wings Mural”, so you will have two amazing photo opportunities.
Looking for a fun and colorful backdrop for your next Instagram photo? Check out this polka dotted rainbow-colored dream. It is such a fun piece to check out when you’re in the neighborhood. It was created by Jason Woodside and was a part of the Nashville Walls Project. You can find it across the street from the “Wings Mural” as well.
Release your inner hippie and check out the “Peace Out” mural. This colorful mural is located across the street from the “I Believe In Nashville” piece on 12th Ave. This gorgeous mural comes with a purpose. When you visit their website and purchase merchandise, some of the proceeds go to charity. How awesome is that?
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Marathon Village Another hugely popular mural that has been posted online more than a million times is the “I Believe In Nashville” piece. It is a staple in Nashville art. It has multiple locations that it can be found. The artwork can be located at Clinton Street, 625 Main St. and 2702 12th Ave. S. The artist, Adrien Saporiti has quickly become a popular local name.
12 South Neighborhood The 12 South area not only is home to the “I Believe in Nashville” mural, but you can also find some other amazing works of art such as the “Nashville Looks Good On You” piece. It is a staple postcard photo to remember your time in the city. It can befound on 12th Ave behind the Frothy Monkey.
Elliston Place Garage If you are on the hunt for some mind-blowing artwork, be sure to stop by Elliston Place Garage. It was a part of the Nashville Walls Project, and the entire building is covered in art. The stairwells, walls, and more. You can find this beauty at Elliston Place at Louise Ave near Vanderbilt. Artists include Nathan Brown, Folek and Chase, Emily Miller, Audi Adams, Tess Erlenborn, and Brian Wooden. Be sure to explore every inch of this place. There is art everywhere you turn.
Sylvan Park The “Wish For Peace” mural located at Hugh-Baby’s BBQ is a cute little mural to swing by and check out. Created by the WHAT Creative Group, it is an amazing piece of art that offers a timeless message to its visitors. If you are a lover of food and all things culinary, you’re going to want to have your picture taken with the mural titled “Nashville” located at Richland Park. Created by Micheal Cooper, this piece includes eggs, bacon, and cookies. What more could you ask for? The number of murals that you can visit around Nashville seems endless. This list is only a small drop in a very big bucket. For additional pieces in the area, check out boxwoodbliss.com/nashville-murals/ and add some more artwork to your daily quest. Happy hunting.
CHANGES TO BE AWARE OF The New Gold Standard
Gearing up for some end of summer travel, you may want to learn more about the new REAL ID. Before the passing of the REAL ID Act of 2005, you didn’t need to have the, now fancy, gold star on your identification card or driver’s license. Next year, if you plan on boarding a domestic flight after October 1, 2020, you will need to have the gold star on your identification card. Not only will this be necessary to board a domestic flight, but the new gold star can also get you into federal facilities or onto a military base. Though these two changes are in effect next year, you do not need the gold star to drive or for general identification purposes. Hopefully, learning of these changes will give you plenty of time to pay a visit to the DMV. Car Cell Phone Usage Locally, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security partnered with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to pass law PC0412, making it illegal to hold your phone while driving. This legislation can be explained through the campaign Hands Free Tennessee at handsfreetn.com. What you should know: it is illegal to hold the phone with any part of your body; write or send a text; reach for your phone in a way that requires you to no longer be seated; watch videos; or broadcast video. This list is intended to eliminate distracted driving-related fatalities and injuries for good. The penalties are listed as $50 for first offense, then doubles for the second and the third offenses. VA Updates Updates from the VA are almost continual and expected. One that may be of note is a new VA automobile allowance for adaptive equipment. If you have a disability related to your military service preventing you from driving, then you may be eligible for a new grant from the VA. First, you must receive military disability benefits. You must suffer from a list of eligible disabilities, like the loss of one or both feet or hands, permanent decreased vision, severe burn, ALS, or Ankylosis in one or both knees. If you suffer from one of these disabilities and need assistance with adaptive transportation equipment, then you should visit va.gov/disability/eligibility/special-claims. Here, you will be able to complete form 21-4502 which is for a one-time payment to help you buy a specially equipped vehicle; the VA will pay the vehicle’s seller directly. Fill out form 10-1394 to see if you qualify for the adaptive-equipment grant, which the VA may pay you or the equipment seller directly. 5
This is the beginning of a series that will highlight communities in the Fort Campbell area. You can use this to help you in exploring and learning about your retirement home. Each issue will feature historic locations, restaurants, museums and much more. Out and About in Hopkinsville for more info to plan your trip visit: visithopkinsville.com Affectionately nicknamed Hoptown, the city of Hopkinsville is a quiet getaway for food and leisure activities, but it has quite the riveting history. It was founded in 1796 by Bartholomew Wood who received the land as a grant for his actions in the American Revolution. He received 1,200 acres, and he later donated 5 acres to become the county seat of Christian County today. Later, the town wanted to rename itself Elizabeth after Woods’ eldest daughter, however, a city had taken the name already in Hardin County. Hopkinsville was named in honor of war hero Samuel Hopkins in 1804. The Civil War saw a mixed response in Hopkinsville by splitting the town in support of both the Union and the Confederacy. The town switched hands multiple times throughout the war. Initially, the town was under lead of the Confederacy, and the Oak Grove Rangers and 28th Kentucky Cavalry were founded. Hopkinsville was also the hometown of the President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis. During Union occupation, Camp Joe Anderson was founded, and the 35th Kentucky Cavalry, 25th Kentucky Infantry, and 35th Kentucky Infantry sprang up. Edgar Cayce, world-renowned psychic, Ted Poston, African American journalist and Jerry Claiborne, college football coach, are just a few of the folks born and reared in this small, tightly-knit community. Today, with a county-wide population of just over 70,000, this community is still one deeply rooted in agriculture and takes great pride in its adaptability and hospitable nature. The people are friendly, the land is breathtaking and the barbecue is served with a side of burgoo. After the railroad found its way to Hopkinsville in 1868 with the Evansville, Henderson, and Nashville Railroad, tobacco became a large commercial product for Hopkinsville, especially the Black Patch tobacco that is grown in the region which was highly prized in Europe. The American Tobacco Company came in and reduced the wages of farmers. This caused quite the stir, and the farmers banded together to fight the injustice, although many farmers still sold in secret. This led to the Silent Brigade to pressure farmers into standing firm and ended up failing. Out of this failure, the Night Riders sprang, a band of masked farmers who seized the police station and eventually burned three warehouses on December 7, 1907. Enough history...let’s start the tour with something yummy... First on the list is The Horseshoe Steakhouse (2112 Fort Campbell Blvd 270-886-7734) Since 1968 providing grilled meat at it’s best. Casual and family friendly. A local landmark. Da Vinci at Novadell (500 Novadell Way • 270-632-1448) has excellent reviews—the chicken parmesan is top notch. Roundies Rock Café (115 E 1st St • 270-886-4240) served some of the
best breakfast. BBQ is sure to be on anyone’s list, and Woodshed Pit Bar-B-Que (1821 W 7th St • 270-885-8144) , Bar B Que Shack (4687 Pembroke Rd 270-475-4844), and Duo’s BBQ and Grill (822 E 21st St • 270-484-1174) aim to please. If pizza appeases you more, Hoptown Pizza and Wings (2717 Fort Campbell Blvd • 270-887-0001) Main St. Tavern (801 S Main St • 270-484-5066), and Bambinos (2701 Fort Campbell Blvd • 270-632-1315) are up your alley. Plenty of additional choices on visithopkinsville.com
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Trail of Tears Commemorative Park Situated on a part of the campground used by the Cherokee Indians on the infamous Trail of Tears, this portion includes the grave sites of Chiefs White Path and Fly Smith. Also on the site is a restored log cabin, Heritage Center and picnic areas. A Trail of Tears Pow Wow is held annually the weekend following Labor Day with native dance competitions, crafts, food and more. Skyline Dr. & Hwy 41 • 800-842-9959 • trailoftears.org Museums Encounter the early life of Edgar Cayce, “The Sleeping Prophet,” come face to face with masked vigilantes of the Black Patch Tobacco War, pay tribute to military heroes, and discover the region’s rich African American heritage at the Pennyroyal Area Museum. 9th Street in the former 1914 Post Office, Hopkinsville’s oldest museum showcases the community and region history through permanent exhibits, educational programs, and special events. Woody Winfree Fire-Transportation Museum Cruise down memory lane with classic cars at this Kentucky museum. Part of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County’s family of museums, the museum resides in the city’s old Central Fire Station and honors fire fighters while preserving history. The collection traces the history of transportation with buggies, wagons, antique gas pumps, a 1909 Model 10 Buick, a 1926 Model “T” Ford, a 1927 Chevrolet Pumper fire truck, and more! 310 E. 9th Street • 270-887-4270 • museumsofhopkinsville.com Historic Downtown Look up to enjoy intricate, detailed historic architecture, while strolling among local shopping boutiques in historic downtown Hopkinsville. Wares include ladies clothing and accessories, home decor and accessories, antiques, books, skin and hair care, fine jewelry, hardware and more. With dining options, live theatre, art exhibits, museums, parks, and a seasonal Farmer’s Market, there’s much to enjoy. 710 South Main Street • 270-887-4285 Fort Campbell Memorial Park The 16-acre Fort Campbell Memorial Park honors 248 soldiers who were killed in 1985 while returning home to Fort Campbell. The park features a paved walking trail, benches and lighted “Peacekeeper” monument sculpted by Hopkinsville artist Steve Shields. The seven-foot copper statue is fronted by granite markers chiseled with the names of the fallen soldiers. 41-A & Pennyrile Parkway • 270-885-9096 or 1-800-842-9959 Round Table Literary Park Nestled among a grove of trees on the Hopkinsville Community College campus, the park features King Arthur’s Sword in the Stone, a 22,000 pound replica of King Arthur’s Round Table, Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, a Greco-Roman amphitheater, a Medieval Wall, and the Delphian Tholos. 720 North Drive Jefferson Davis Monument Named as a Kentucky “There’s Only One” attraction, designating it as a must-see Kentucky stop. There’s only one birthplace of Jefferson Davis. The Jefferson Davis Monument State Historic Site is a memorial to the Confederate president born on the site in 1808. The 351-foot concrete obelisk rests on a foundation of Kentucky limestone and contains walls seven feet thick at the base, tapering to two feet thick at the incline. The site includes a Visitor’s Center with gift shop, picnic shelters and more. Hwy 68 E, Fairview, KY • 270-889-6100 • parks.ky.gov
L & N Depot Built in 1892, the L & N Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places and now houses the Pennyroyal Arts Council. During its operating years, the depot was a popular layover spot for those traveling by train. 425 E. 9th Street • 270-887-4295 pennyroyalarts.org
Brushy Fork Creek Gallery & Studio Brushy Fork Creek Gallery & Studio owners Paul and Patricia Ferrell create and display their various works of art, including wood turnings from hollow-form vessels, bowls, oil lamps, decorative wooden wine tops, and ikebanas made mostly from burlwood and spalted wood from Western Kentucky. They also produce a variety of unique functional stoneware and porcelain pottery. 1550 Pleasant Greenhill Rd, Crofton • 270-424-5988 • brushyforkcreek.com Casey Jones Distillery Experience Casey Jones Distillery, a craft distillery with truly handcrafted, small-batch spirits. Produced on a still designed by the moonshine legend himself, Casey Jones, taste their corn whiskey available in the “original” 92 proof Casey’s Cut, Casey’s Barrel Cut, as well as several unique flavors. Visit our website for a schedule of tours & tastings, or contact us about your next group outing. During your visit, learn more about the process, taste their spirits, and shop Casey’s Corner Gift Shop for local, unique gift items. 2815 Witty Ln. • (270) 839-9987 • caseyjonesdistillery.com
Alhambra Theatre Audiences in the 780-seat proscenium theatre enjoy this renovated theater with expansions, comfort, and restored molding that is patterned after the original 1928 styling. An annual Live at the Alhambra series offers a variety of shows and musical performances presented by the Pennyroyal Arts Council. The Alhambra now features showings of classic films. 507 South Main Street • 270-887-4023 • pennyroyalarts.org Christian Way Farm & Mini Golf At Christian Way Farm & Mini-Golf, sit under a big shade tree and enjoy a picnic. Relax in the swing on the front porch. Feed a goat or calf. Smell the aroma of the pig pen. Hold a baby chick. Plant a seed or pick a pumpkin. Play 18 holes of mini-golf. Take a walk around the farm or ride the wagon behind the tractor. Shop the country store in the old tobacco barn. Look at antique farm equipment. Ride a tricycle or take a nap. In the fall, pick from their pumpkin patch, join them on a hay ride or make your way through the corn maze. 19590 Linville Road • 270-269-2434 christianwayfarm.com Copper Canyon Ranch A full western backdrop with complete buildings decorated with furnishings of the 1800’s. The buildings include a Bank, Saloon, Bella Union Palace (Hotel/Theatre) Marshall’s Office, Barber Shop, Wells Fargo Office, Undertaker Shop, General Store, Church, Cemetary, and Stable. Haunted Hayride through “Ghost Town” during October. 14750 Ovil Rd. • 270-269-2416 • coppercanyonkentucky.com 9
Pennyroyal Scuba Blue Springs Resort With water ranging from 5- to 130-feet depths, Pennyroyal Scuba is a breathtaking 22-acre spring-fed quarry located in Western Kentucky, and it’s not an average dive site. It offers a full-range of diving experiences from beginner to advanced adventures. Divers can explore over 40 sunken treasures, and enjoy the clearest waters inland. They also offer a full service dive shop on site with Air & Nitrox fill & rentals, on–site service department, classes and more. 602 Christian Quarry Rd • 270-887-2585 • pennyroyalscuba.com
Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center features a twisting tube, lazy river, and splash interactive playground with poolside concessions on site. The Center is open daily from Memorial Day through the start of school, and weekends until Labor Day. 9503 Eagle Way Bypass • 270-890-0730 • tiebreakerpark.com Hopkinsville Brewing Company The first craft beer brewery in Christian County and the City of Hopkinsville. They produce and sell hand crafted beer by the pint, flight board, and growler. They feature a family friendly and festive indoor taproom, outdoor biergarten-style patio, and second floor event room. A variety of local mobile food vendors provide food for you to enjoy at the brewery with your pint. 102 E 5th St • 270-987-3115 • hopkinsvillebrewingcompany.com
MB Roland Distillery A stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft tour! Stop by to take a tour, have a tasting, and get your passport stamped. MB Roland Distillery is a small-scale, craft distillery that uses local grains to produce quality, handmade distilled spirits to include Kentucky bourbon, whiskies and spirits. The distillery offers product sales as well as free tours and tastings. In the summer, check out the Pickin’ on the Porch concert series. Craft fairs are held during the spring and fall. 137 Barkers Mill Rd, Pembroke, KY • 270-640-7744 • mbroland.com
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Surrounded by the beautiful woods of Western Kentucky on the serene Pennyrile Lake, this state resort park features a rustic wood and stone lodge, rental cottages, camping, horse camping, restaurant, golf course, meeting rooms, nature trails, fishing, boating, mountain biking, swimming, tennis, and picnic shelters. 20781 Pennyrile Lodge Rd • 270-797-3421 800-325-1711 • parks.ky.gov Hopkinsville Art Guild Gallery The Gallery offers Art Guild members an opportunity to exhibit original oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, photographs, wood turnings, jewelry, furniture, sculptured pieces and pottery items for sale. A variety of community events are hosted at the gallery including “Brown Bag Luncheons” which are held on a monthly basis. 108 E 6th St. • 270-962-7307 • hopkinsvilleartguild.org
Albert Goulet SFC(R) I had a rare chance to sit with Albert Goulet in his office at Eagles of War. This was a sanctuary devoted to making sure those at Fort. Campbell have the necessities they need. Albert has a larger than life personality to match his warehouse of Army supplies. I plopped down in a big, comfortable leather chair to hear what Albert had to share. What was your life like before the military? I entered the military when I was 18 years old, so there wasn’t anything but high school. Where did you grow up while you were in high school? St. Louis, Missouri That’s where you went into the military? No, I went into the job corps, and I was in Butte, Montana when I went into the military on July of 1966. What was your early military career like? I went to AIT, went to Fort McArthur, California and worked for I guess the staff that teach officers how to create a war, then I went to AIT, but I went to AIT as a gun bunny 105 Howitzer, then I went to Vietnam automatically. I served 21 months in Vietnam Albert in Vietnam 1967 Nick Name (Bones) (far left) as artilleryman in the 1st Battalion of the 7th Field Artillery in Di-An, Vietnam. It is about 30 miles west of Saigon. I did my wonderful tour with the First Infantry Division, then I came to Fort Campbell in 1977, and I stayed. I spent 5 years with the 101st 2nd Brigade, 506 Infantry for 2 years, then I moved to HQ 2nd Brigade, and that was good [he chuckles]. Anyhow, I left there in 1981 and toured in Germany for 4 years, then I retired in 1986, and I opened Eagles of War, and 34 years later we are here. We have been serving the 101st for 34 years. I noticed you have quite the surplus; what is one of your hottest items? We sell Army surplus, yes. It depends on what is going on in the world. It could be a boonie hat; it could be boots, jackets, rank. Whatever is going on out there. If they have a new award or new medal that everybody gets issued with, we have them. To give you an example, the PX will order 50 on post, and we order 5,000. So, they run out, and we keep on selling them. It’s the same thing with the ribbon bar, racks, when everybody gets a –new award, they have to change them because they went from 10 to 11. We look out for the soldiers; that’s what we’re here for. 11
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What is the one thing you can’t get in the door fast enough? Right now, they have a restriction on multi-cam uniforms that are only sold to the government. You can’t commercially buy it yet, but they are working on releasing it; it should be soon. The government is way behind on a new uniform. What made you want to stay in Clarksville?
World’s Best Peepaw
I bought a house here in 1977. Clarksville was a nice little town. It was little, Fort Campbell Blvd. was just two lanes. In ’77, Clarksville was just starting to sprout.
What is a fond memory of early Clarksville? Grandpas! If you needed something, you had to go there and get it. The Army encouraged you to go there and buy stuff you needed like pots and pans, salt and pepper shakers, whatever, and Grandpas was it. It was the best thing to happen to Clarksville in the early days. What advice do you have for someone newly retired? Live within your means. Clarksville is a great place, if you need help, people will help you. Clarksville has many things to offer lots of people, but if you sit in the house and do nothing, you’re going to end up worthless. If you get out and do something, help people, go through something, join a club, you know, do something besides sit and watch tv. Any good stories you want to end with? The best thing I did here at Eagles of War, we developed the 101st helmet patch for General Petraeus. This was a redesign of one of the helmet patches that go back to World War II. The patch was in 2003. Since then, all the brigades have their own helmet patch. We did about half of them, some of them we did not do. It makes the soldiers more recognizable, everybody in the military knows who they are. And everybody is copying the 101st, but the 101st was the first to do it. 13
World Famous Helmet Patch for General Petraeus
My Father...Semper Fi part 3 by Rose Pollard
Upon completion of his duties at Quantico, the Marine served as a drill instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina and was then sent to Port Lyautey, French Morocco. This tour would be widespread and varied, taking him to many parts of the globe. Reporting to the Commander of Naval Activities, he was assigned as an agent with the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and given a two-and-a-half-week crash course in the French language, as it was the primary language in Morocco. The next step was to purchase civilian clothes, as uniforms were forbidden in the cities. While waiting on his first assignment, he had the chance to visit the pyramids of Egypt, and the Valley of the Kings on the Nile River. His assignment with the CID consisted of checking American embassies in the area for security, investigating crimes that were committed by American nationals, tracking AWOL servicemen, vetting foreign nationals working on American bases and foreign women wanting to marry American servicemen. They were also responsible for making sure that discipline and good order were maintained on the American bases. Some of the cases solved during this assignment included fraud, payroll theft, murder, breach of security, and one case of espionage. They were also assigned as bodyguards when King Mohammad visited military bases. After a particularly sensitive case involving Moroccan officials, his unit was invited to lunch with the King at his quarters in Rabat. Due to political changes in Morocco during this time, the unit was eventually disbanded. The now seasoned Marine was then sent back to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune and assumed the position of Company Gunnery Sergeant. At this time, the 2nd Division was still required to keep a regimental combat team afloat in the Mediterranean Sea. He visited parts of the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, and made mock landings again on the islands of Crete, Sardinia, and Corsica. This training would pay off later in the rice paddies and jungles of Southeast Asia. Next, the Marine was issued a set of dress blues and sent to New York City for a tour on recruiting duty. Upon arrival, he was assigned as a troubleshooter, that is, to bring stations not meeting their quota of recruits up to acceptable standards. Enlisting the aid of the news media, TV, and schools, this task was successfully accomplished. He also acted as casualty notification officer, just as the Viet Nam War was heating up. He was assigned his own recruiting station at Journal Square in Jersey City, New Jersey, and promoted to 1st Sergeant. After a couple of years in New York, he requested duty in Southeast Asia and was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to train a unit of snipers. Upon completion of the training, he was sent to Phu Bai, Viet Nam to suppress snipers that were harassing bases in the area. Snipers can greatly reduce the effectiveness of troops in a stationary position. Spending a great deal of time in the bush with his unit, and with fifty-four confirmed kills, the sniper problem was greatly diminished. 16
Soon afterward, the Tet Offensive erupted, and Marines from Phu Bai were sent to Hue City to retake the city from well dug-in North Vietnamese troops. It was brutal street and house-to-house fighting. After the city was secured, the Marine was assigned to Hill 55 west of Da Nang. Now a 1st Sergeant, he was given an artillery battery, which would act as firing support for operations north and west of Da Nang. Several attempts were made to overrun the hill, but the Marines held on. He also participated in Operation Phoenix, a covert operation aimed at terminating village chiefs and mayors sympathetic to the enemy. The program was run under the auspices of the CIA. His tour in country was almost over, and after a few more weeks of running patrols, he was posted back to the states with several decorations. When he returned home, the Sergeant was then stationed in Rockford, Illinois to assume the duty of Inspector/Instructor to a Reserve Infantry Base. Duties in this command consisted of overseeing the day-to-day administration and training soldiers for assured readiness if called to active duty. Toys for Tots, casualty notification, and funerals were also the responsibility of the Marine Cadre. He also assisted the local Police Forces in marksmanship training, as some of the local policemen were members of the Marine Rescue Unit. Time was running out for the Marine from Between the Rivers. The combat and adventure was now in the past. He felt fortunate to have emerged from all that he had done and seen with no major battle scars . . . only contracting Malaria in the jungles of Southeast Asia, being sprayed with Agent Orange and losing an ear, having a foot split open diving off the coast of Morocco, and being bitten by a poisonous spider in Africa. All in all, he had been lucky. He felt that God had been watching over him. Now it was time to say good-bye to his beloved Corps. There are no ex-Marines, only former Marines. They never die, but like the globe and anchor, they just fade away. It seemed like only yesterday he was a barefoot boy hunting squirrels for food in the hill country of Western Kentucky. As they say in the Legion, “le repos du guerrir” (it is time for old warriors to rest.) Or, as the Navaho say, “it is time for the young warriors to make history and the old ones to tell stories.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. People all over the globe dedicate the month of October to raising money as well as awareness to this disease. Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the breast, and it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Every year, over 252,710 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 40,500 will lose their life during their breast cancer battle. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and 1 woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes. Did you know that when detected early, the 5-year relative survival rate is 100%? To ensure early detection, perform monthly breast self-exams and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms. Over 3.3 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the United States today, and many of them are dedicated to helping spread awareness to this life-changing illness. If you would like to get involved in the cause, there are many events going on in the area. 2019 Komen Greater Nashville MORE THAN PINK Walk™ Saturday, October 26, 2019 Race Village opens 7am, opening ceremonies begins 8:15am, and the walk begins 9am. The event is located at Maryland Farms, 5101 Maryland Way Brentwood, TN. For more information and to register for this event, go to komencentraltennessee.org Making Strides of Nashville Saturday, November 02, 2019 Check in will begin at 6am, and the walk begins at 8am. The fundraiser will take place at Nissan Stadium, 1 Titans Way Nashville. To register or donate for this event, go to: Cancer.org/involved/fundraise/making-strides-against-breast-cancer.html
Black Licorice Delight 4 parts Pernod® licorice liqueur 3 parts blackcurrant cordial 8 – 10 parts water black food coloring or icing coloring 1 cup sugar Fill a pitcher with water, and add black food coloring in small increments until water reaches desired blackness. Pour black water into ice tray and allow to freeze completely.While ice is freezing, pour 1 cup sugar into a bowl. Add 1⁄4 tsp. black food coloring to the sugar and use a fork to mash until fully incorporated. Dip the rims of your glasses into water, and then into the black sugar. Don’t put too much water on the rims, as it’ll cause the sugar to drip. Add 1 or 2 cubes of black ice to each glass. In a separate pitcher combine the Pernod, blackcurrant cordial and water, and pour over ice cubes.
Smoking Blackberry Sage Margarita 2 oz 100% agave silver tequila 1 oz lemon juice 8 medium blackberries 5 leaves fresh sage 1 teaspoon maple syrup 1 dash orange bitters Garnish (optional): Dried sage leaves Blackberries Muddle the blackberries and sage together in a cocktail shaker until broken down and fragrant. Pour in the tequila, lemon juice, bitters, and maple syrup. Give it a good shake and pour over ice. Light the tip of the dried sage on fire right before serving.
Drink recipes and photos courtesy of mixthatdrink.com
The Dark Lord 1 ounce vodka 1 ounce blackberry schnapps 1/2 ounce cranberry juice Shake all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
Red Death 1 ounce Southern Comfort 1 ounce vodka 1/2 ounce sloe gin 1/2 ounce triple sec 1/2 ounce blackberry brandy 2 ounce orange juice 1 ounce pineapple juice Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in all ingredients and shake until chilled. Fill a highball glass with ice and strain the mixture into it.
FEDVIP - Voluntary Dental & Vision Benefits
by Theodore W. Faulkner Chief, Personnel Processing Branch Retirement Services Officer Fort Campbell, KY
For over a year, Retirees and authorized family members have been eligible for Federal Dental/Vision plans. You may have seen in articles in Army Echoes or other publications regarding these plans, but may have missed that this new benefit is not automatic. It requires you to enroll during an “Open Season”, or as a result of a qualifying life event. So, what exactly is this new benefit and how do you enroll?
FEDVIP is a voluntary program designed to provide dental and vision benefits, which are available on an enrollee-pay-all basis (e.g., no government contribution toward premiums), as was the case with TRICARE Retiree Dental Program. Eligible TRICARE beneficiaries will now have the option to select a dental and/or vision plan that meets their individual needs. FEDVIP allows dental and vision insurance to be purchased on a group basis, which results in competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations for enrollment. There are 10 dental carriers and four vision carriers available through FEDVIP (although some are region-specific). Eligible TRICARE beneficiaries will have the opportunity to enroll in FEDVIP and manage their coverage via BENEFEDS.com, a secure enrollment portal administered by Long Term Care Partners, LLC (LTCP), on behalf of the Office of Personnel Management. In general, the coverage offered under FEDVIP dental plans is comparable to the dental coverage offered under TRDP. Under FEDVIP dental plans: • in-network preventive services are covered at 100 percent. • there are no deductibles when using in-network dentists. • major services such as crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants do not have a waiting period. • some plans offer orthodontic coverage without a 12-month waiting period or age limit. Also, Retirees and eligible family members can enroll in FEDVIP vision plans. Because TRICARE vision benefits are somewhat limited in scope (covering only one vision exam every two years and not paying for glasses or contact lenses), the new vision plan can make a big difference in your life. With FEDVIP, you may choose from four comprehensive vision insurance plans. Vision plans include routine eye exams, eyeglass frames and lenses (plus lens options such as shatter-resistant polycarbonate; scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, and UV coatings; and tinted and progressive lenses), contact lenses and discounts on laser eye surgery. Beneficiaries must enroll in vision plans during the upcoming open season. Eligible TRICARE beneficiaries have the opportunity to enroll each year during the annual open season or outside of open season if a beneficiary experiences a qualifying life event (QLE), such as birth, death, or marriage. Once the beneficiary is enrolled in a FEDVIP plan, the enrollment will automatically continue each year. The actions the beneficiary or their dependents may take depend on what type of QLE they have experienced. Generally, changes in FEDVIP must be made within 60 days of a QLE. Each year, open season runs from the Monday of the second full week in November through the Monday of the second full week in December. Open season 2020 begins on 11 November 2019 and runs through 9 December 2019, with coverage effective on 1 January 2020 if you enroll. Any election in a FEDVIP plan remains in effect for the entire calendar year, unless you experience a qualifying life event. Enrollment is easy and involves three steps: eligibility verification, creation of a BENEFEDS account and the enrollment itself. To do this, either go to the BENEFEDS website located at benefeds.com or call 1-877-888-3337. 19
Veteran’s Book Review Ross Ritchell Published only a few years ago, “The Knife” is a fictional wartime page-turner. Ritchell is a combat veteran of the 75th Ranger Regiment, and his novel reinforces his knowledge of war. Reviews of this novel cast it as dark and morally provocative. It follows main character Dutch Shaw through combat zones, life as the spec-ops team lead, and the fluctuations of daily life that are frequent in war zones.
Phil Klay Klay won the National Book award in 2014 for his collection of short stories, “Redeployment”. Klay was a Marine in the Iraq war between 2005-9. He grew up in Westchester, New York. While in college, Klay attended an Officer Candidate School at Quantico, where he later graduated and was commissioned second lieutenant. He divulges personal and family reasons for joining the war, and he wanted to take responsibility for the better. Many of the stories you will find in Klay’s short story collection deal with life on the FOBBIT and recollections of other veteran soldiers.
Colby Buzzell Buzzell is a California native who enlisted in the Army at age 26. He had a lively youth and was drawn into the Army by their slogan “Be All That You Can Be.” Buzzell joined in 2003 and was assigned as infantry to the Stryker Brigade Combat Team. While he was stationed in Iraq, Buzzell started a blog which lead to his writing a book “My War: Killing Time in Iraq”. His book fuses narrative and blog entries to create a very modern text all its own.
Weston Ochse Ochse is an author and educator who has won the Bram Stoker Award and was nominated for the Pushcart Award. His novel “SEAL Team 666” is under development for theatres with MGM studios and executive producer Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Ochse joined the military after he graduated high school in Chattanooga, TN. After enlisting, he became an intelligence officer in the Army and travelled extensively until he retired in 2004. Ochse has written a number of books including: “Recalled to Life”; “Grunt Life”, “Grunt Hero”, and “Blaze of Glory”, to name a few.
Tim O’Brien O’Brien is best known for his riveting collection of semi-autobiographical stories in “The Things They Carried”, which recount his time in the Vietnam War. His first book, however, was an autobiographical account of his tour of duty, “If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home”. O’Brien was earning his bachelor’s degree in political science when he was drafted into the Army. Upon his return he completed the requirements for a graduate degree at Harvard University. 20
173rd Brought Heritage and History to Fort Campbell During the longest conflict in the whole of U.S. history, the Tien Bien are known for being one of the first major ground units to step foot in Vietnam. Mandarin for Sky Soldiers, the Tien Bien, or 173rd Airborne Brigade, was one of the most active units during multiple American conflicts: both World Wars, the Vietnam War and most recently on the War on Terror. The brigade is most known for their valiant duty during the Vietnam conflict. Following their deactivation after both World Wars, the brigade was officially reactivated in May 1963, in Okinawa, Japan, where they trained extensively making parachute jumps. Two years later in May 1965, the 173rd was deployed into the jungles of Vietnam, and were followed by none other than the 1st Brigade from the 101st Airborne Division. The 173rd served in South Vietnam through the end of the war, being joined again by familiar soldiers from Fort Campbell in the 4th Battalion 503rd Infantry in August 1966. After the conclusion of the conflict, the 173rd was ultimately deactivated once again after their involvement in the Vietnam War. This wasn’t before being restationed at the now permanent Fort Campbell in April 1971.
The brigade was deactivated shortly after their trip home in January 1972, and most of their resources were absorbed into 101st Airborne Division units. This isn’t the end of the brigade’s story though, because there was another conflict heating up in the middle east just fewer than three decades later. As one of the units used in conflicts in the middle east during the Iraq war, the 173rd Brigade was reactivated in Vicenza, Italy, in 2000 where they remain to the current day. Planted in the memorial area across from the Don F. Pratt museum, the 173rd Airborne Brigade monument commemorates the service of the veterans, active-duty and fallen from the brigade. The crest of the Brigade is etched onto the top of the obelisk with the blue shield carrying a wing wielding a sword. The 173rd had loose ties to the 101st Airborne Division, but they were still one of the most prominent brigades to be deployed in Vietnam and received their well-deserved rest at Fort Campbell following the war. It was their continued and valiant service that defines the 173rd, and what they are still known for today.