Day June 6, 1944

from 2023 Texas VFW Magazine Fall Edition

About the Texas VFW

June 6th, 1944: More than 150,000 Allied troops land on the beaches of Normandy, France, as part of the largest seaborne invasion in history. Known as "D-Day," the name and date loom large in the memory of World War II perhaps second only to December 7th, 1941. These two dates stand on opposite ends of American involvement in the war, and their meaning could not be more different. D-Day put the Allies on a decisive path toward victory. Beginning with the Normandy beaches, they pushed back against Axis forces until Germany was forced to surrender less than a year later. Their achievements were not accomplished without tremendous sacrifice, however, as the Normandy invasion resulted in over 6,000 American casualties.

Wading or swimming ashore on June 6, 1944, were some of World War II's bravest soldiers. Whether demolition experts, rangers trained to scale the cliffs of Normandy, bulldozer operators ready to create a new network on roads, or just infantrymen primed to establish positions, these men all shared a strong sense of determination to take the fight to the enemy and take France back from the Germans.

Source: Library of Congress – D-Day: On The Beach

Serving Our Voices: Stories from the Veterans History Project

MOC Update

By Mitch Fuller, Grand Commander of Texas

I was honored to represent the Military Order of (MOC) Grand of Texas at the 88th Annual MOC Tomb Trek at Arlington National Cemetery Nov 3-6, 2023. This is one of the core missions of the MOC, the Honor Degree of the VFW. The MOC laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Argonne Cross, a memorial for servicemembers killed in France in World War I

The 88th Tomb Trek also included a Town Hall for the MOC and MOC Auxiliary (MOCA) hosted by the MOC Supreme (National) Commander Mark Larkin, a Supreme Council of Administration (COA) meeting and “Lousy” Cootie Fellowship throughout As the Grand Commander of Texas, I have a seat on the Supreme COA. Also, in attendance at Tomb Trek were Past Grand of Texas Commanders Allan Perkins, Earl Bigham, and Larry Dayhoff as well as other Texas Cooties and several members of the MOCA Grand of Texas. The Grand of Texas is well represented at Supreme: Past Grand Commander Bigham is the Supreme Inspector and Past Grand Commander Perkins is the Supreme Papa Clown

I’m also honored to serve on the Supreme By-Laws Committee along with Cooties from the Grands of Delaware, Wisconsin, Virginia, and North Carolina and Supreme Commander Larkin More changes to the By-Laws and minor tweaks to the Cootie Ritual are forthcoming and will be voted on at the Supreme Scratch/Convention in July 2024 in Louisville, KY. The ultimate approval authority for the MOC By-Laws is the VFW. The trend of the last few years is the restoration of a close working relationship between the VFW and MOC at the Supreme level, and we certainly have that close relationship in Texas thanks to our VFW Department of Texas leadership.

There are currently nine MOC Pup Tents in the Grand of Texas with plans for a new Pup Tent in the DFW Metroplex after the New Year The Grand of Texas and our Pup Tents are working on the Supreme Commander’s Program of Work for 2023-24 which includes his motto, “Scouting for Comrades”, a project related to Veteran suicide prevention and another of the core missions of the MOC Hospital Work (the Cootie equivalent of VFW community service reports), which includes visits to VA facilities, civilian hospitals and clinics.

I want to express my thanks to Grand of Texas Sr. Vice Commander Anson Booker, Grand of Texas Jr. Vice Commander Cedrick Shells, and all of our Grand Officers, Past Grand Commanders, and Pup Tent leaders for their hard work “increasing and multiplying ” The motto of the MOC since its founding in 1920 is “Keep Em Smilin in Beds of White ” And in the MOC, we always remember that we are “Hand in Hand with the VFW” and “Cooties are Comrades First ”

MOC Pup Tents & Membership

If any VFW Posts are interested in starting a new Pup Tent or reinstating a defunct Pup Tent, please reach out to Mitch Fuller by email at mitch@texasvfw.org.

You can find more information about the Grand of Texas at gotcooties org

Celebrating The Life of a 100-Year-Old Veteran Submission by Sam Houston VFW Post 76

At VFW Post 76 in San Antonio, “The Oldest Post in Texas”, comrades came together to celebrate the life of Mr. Cruz Arizmendi, Jr. A Life member of Post 76 and a World War II Veteran. He was born on October 22, 1923, and celebrated his 100th birthday with friends and family on the 21st of October.

Graduating from Sidney Lanier High School in San Antonio, Texas in 1942, comrade Arizmendi was immediately drafted into the United States Army. He served for the next 3 years with the D Battery, 581st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion in Germany and Central Europe. During his service, he received the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, European-AfricanMiddle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon and 2 Overseas Ribbons.

After returning from the service in 1946, Cruz enrolled in college and received both a bachelors and a masters degree in Music from the University of Texas in Austin. Later, he continued pursued and received another masters degree in School Administration from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

Mr. Arizmendi Jr. worked in the Education field for 39 years in various administrative positions as a Teacher, Band Director, Counselor, Principal and Director of a Junior College Campus. He was the Division Head for Manpower Training for the Texas A&M University in San Antonio.

In addition, Cruz continued his service in education as the Band Director at Fox Tech High School for 8 years, and was the first Latin-American High School Band Director in the San Antonio Independent School District. His love is to play the saxophone and the clarinet.

Some of his other career highlights was playing clarinet with the Beethoven German Band for 20 years. He also had his own 12- piece orchestra that he conducted, “Cruz Arizmendi & His International Orchestra”.

Mr. Arizmendi Jr. resides in San Antonio Texas with his wife Ana Marie Monteleone de Arizmendi.

Mr. Arizmendi Jr is a member of the American Legion Post 336. At his 100th birthday celebration, he was presented with a Bronze Legacy Life Membership by VFW Post 76 Commander Michael Toreno. He was also presented a City of San Antonio Citation signed by Mayor Ron Nirenberg congratulating him on this momentous occasion.

VFW Post 2033

Woodville, TX

June 14, 2023 - Flag Day and U.S. Army Birthday, Post Commander Mike King, Post Quartermaster Max Montgomery, and Tyler County Republican Women conducted a US Flag Retirement Ceremony. Commander King spoke to members and the community about the history of the US Flag and the proper etiquette of retiring the Flag and wished all members of the US Army a Happy Birthday of 248 years. On hand to assist in the retirement ceremony representatives from the local Cub Scouts & Girl Scouts.

History of Flag Day

Flag Day is celebrated on June, 14 each year. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. At the time, the flag of the thirteen United States being thirteen stripes, alternate red and white. The union being the thirteen stars, white in a blue field which represented the new constellation. Flag Day also has significance to the United States Army as they celebrate their birthday which was adopted as “The American Continental Army” in 1775.

VFW Post 2559

West Tawakoni, TX

Post members performing a joint ceremony of Flag Day and Retirement Ceremony with veteran sister organizations, AMVETS Post 36 and American Legion Post 517. The community was invited to turn in old flags in honor of a loved one.

VFW Post 8576 Clute, TX

Post Quartermaster Jerry Lyons and Sr Vice Commander James Qualls assisted organizing and attended a Flag Day ceremony hosted by the City of Angleton at Veteran's Park.