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Official Publication of the SPJST, originally chartered as the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas, in 1897
HUMANITY
ENEVOLENCE
L'.:OTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SPJST Home Office, P. 0. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503
VOLUME 90 NUMBER 47
ISSN-07458800
December 4, 2002
Family fun and Important SPJST Dates December 4 December 4 December 6
Thanks for Giving! District Six Director Mike Ahlstrom presents State Fraternal Activities Coordinator Gladys Yates, left, and State Youth 'Director Melanie Zavodny with a check for $2,500 to be applied towards the SPJST Scholarship Fund. The proceeds are from the recent Barbecue Cook-off and Festival hosted by District Six. See related photos on page four.
Mortgage Rates
Certificate Loan Rate
75% Owner Residence/ Farm Property 5.875% for 1 to 15 years 6.250% for 16 to 20 years 6.375% for 21 to 30 years
Certificates issued prior to 7-1-1981 Certificates issued after 7-1-1981 Universal Life Loan Rate Premium Refund to Members
85% Owner Residence/Property 7.000% for 1 to 30 years Commercial Property 7.250% for 10 years 7.500% for 11 to 15 years
IRA 5.500% for Annualized* Guaranteed Rate: 3.000% • 5.0%
Annuity II 8.0%
5.500% for Annualized* Guaranteed Rate: 3.000%
7.4%
Certificates issued 4-1-93 and after
3.0%
Annuity I
Universal Life
5.000% for Annualized* Guaranteed Rate: 5.000%
6.750% for Annualized* Guaranteed Rate: 4.500%
* Rates effective 11-1-02
Certificates issued prior to 4-1-93
December 7 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 8 December 9 December 10 December 10 December 11 December 12 December 13 December 13 December 13 December 14 December 14 December 14 December 14 December 15 December 15 December 15 December 15 December 21 December 22 December 2?
Lodge 180, Burleson Christmas Party Lodge 200, Bruceville-Eddy Christmas Party Lodge 8, Weimar Christmas Party at Schulenburg Community Center Lodge 88, Houston Christmas Party Lodge 4, Hallettsville Christmas Party Lodge 18, Elgin Christmas Dance Lodge 20, Granger Christmas Party Lodge 24, Cyclone Youth Club Party Lodge 29, Taylor Christmas Party Lodge 35, Elk Christmas Party Lodge 47, Seaton Christmas Party Lodge. 92, Fort Worth Christmas Party Lodge 107, Floresville Christmas Party Lodge 202, Jourdanton Christmas Party Lodge 189, Bryan-College Station Christmas Party Lodge 151, Wharton Christmas Party Lodge 87, Temple Christmas Party Lodge 151, Wharton Christmas Party Lodge 32, Victoria Christmas Party Lodge 179, Warrenton Christmas Party, Lions Building Lodge 80, Holland Christmas Party Lodge 97, Placedo Christmas Party Lodge 142, Houston Christmas Party Lodge 91, Crosby Christmas Party Lodge 155, Austin Christmas Dinner/Meeting Lodge 183, Arlington Christmas Party Lodge 204, Stephenville Christmas Party Lodge 66, Waco Christmas Party Lodge 84, Dallas Christmas Party Lodge 88, Houston Blue Room Party Lodge 172, Pasadena Christmas Party Lodge 191, Lufkin Christmas Dance Lodge 196, Houston-West Christmas Party Lodge 148, El Maton Holiday Gathering/Meeting —SPJST-
Seabees brave elements, enemy fire on Guadalcanal
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by James D. Rothermel Brenham, Texas
enlisted in the Navy on March - 24, 1942 at Houston, Texas as a Painter 3rd Class and was called to duty in June of 1942. After reporting to Camp Allen, Virginia for boot camp training, I was assigned to C Company of the 14th United States Navy Construction Battalion. The 14th Battalion was cornmis.sioned on July 14, 1942 and included personnel primarily from Texas and Oklahoma with small delegations from New York to California. On September 9, 1942 we set sail across the Pacific for Nouema, Caladonia. I was assigned shore duty to help construct a Navy Receiving Hospital.
Taking Care of Business The 14th left New Caladonia for Guadalcanal arriving at Guadalcanal on November 29, 1942. Our first objective was to clear and build an emergency landing strip for crippled planes. The landing strip was completed on December 16, 1942. Our Commander Captain James V. Carney borrowed a single engine plane from Henderson Field to test the new landing strip. We were highly complimented on the condition and short period of time that it took to complete the project Captian Carney boarded the plane bound for Henderson Field. The engine failed, causing the plane to crash into Skylark Channel, killing the captain and his gunner. He was (Continued on page 3.)
All's Clear . . . for the Moment Brother Jim Rothermel emerges from a foxhole located in the 14th Seabee Battalon Co. "C" living area on Guadalcanl. "We battled mosquitoes, shelling from the sea, nightly air raids and "Pistol Pete" during the day," says Brother Rothermel, who enlisted in the Navy in 1942.