Last American WWI Veteran Dies

by vcasny History Military News Military Photos Press Release Veteran
CPL Frank Woodruff Buckles

February 28, 2011 – Frank Woodruff Buckles the last surviving American WWI Veteran dies at the age of 110 in his West Virginia home. 16-year-old CPL Buckles lied about his age (Telling them he was 18) to the Marines and Navy, but they told him to go home.  Finally an enterprising Army recruiter signed him on the spot after the CPL said he was 21 🙂 In 1942, he was a civilian, but he was captured by the Japanese when they invaded the Philippines.  He spent three and a half years in the Los Baños prison camp. He was rescued on February 23, 1945.

For the full story, please go to defense.gov.

St. Barbara’s Dinner

by vcasny Artillery Military News New York Press Release VCA

LTC MICHAEL K. HOBLIN, BN/CDR 258th FIELD ARTILLERY cordially invites members of the Veteran Corps of Artillery to attend the Annual Saint Barbara’s Celebration conducted at the New York State Armory 93-05 168th Street, Jamaica, New York, 11433 on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at 1900 hrs. To reserve your seat at this auspicious event, contact SSGT Roger Levy at e-mail– garyowene6@aol.com. Please see previous memo for payment information.

UOD
Corps Dress Uniform, dress Blues/Greens (military)
Corps Blazer, Civilian Semi-formal (civilian)
Corps members are encouraged to attend in support of the 258FA, and in honor of SPC Andrew Wilson, who was killed in an accident at the Armory on December 2nd, 2010.

Military programs will suffer if budget not approved

by vcasny History Military News Press Release VCA

So says the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in front of the House Armed Services Committee. Adm. Mike Mullen and SecDef Robert Gates warn that the Defense Department face a crisis if they are forced to operate under a continuing resolution with less money than it needs. The decrease of $23 Billion dollars has forced the services to take “disruptive and sometimes irreversible steps” that make the military less effective than they should be.

What are your thoughts?

For the complete story, please go to defense.gov

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Mess Dinner 2011 Photos and Video

by vcasny Military News


Mess Dinner 2011, originally uploaded by vcasny.

Unfortunately the quality of this set is not very good, but we hope to post some better photos soon. Nonetheless, this should give you a good idea of the event. The talk by David Rohde on his experiences as a Taliban prisoner were amazing. The talks behind the scene that Mrs. Rohde was involved in were also something out of a James Bond movie.

The company and the food were unmatched. For those of you that did not make it this year, we hope to see you in 2012.

A Soldiers Recording Contract

by CPT Stephen Hefler Military News

Brian Stowe, of Elkmont, Ala., joined the Army in June of 2008. He attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training as a human resources specialist at Fort Jackson, S.C. Since his enlistment, he has deployed twice. The first time he spent 7 months in Iraq. Now, he is deployed to Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan with Task Force Knighthawk, assigned to the 10th Mountain Division’s 10th Combat Aviation Brigade.

But Stowe is not your typical soldier, his musical ambitions have led him and his band to a recording contract in a Christian Contemporary genre.

“I sent my song to them, not really looking for a contract so much,” he explained. “I was really hoping for a critique and just wanting to know what they would think.”

In June 2010, Stowe received a call from a recording company and was offered a contract. “I was a bit overjoyed,” he recalled, “then a little disappointed, because we were about to deploy,” he stated. But the executives of the company said they were willing to wait. “They told me we could start recording once I returned,” Stowe said, “so it looks like [in] November or December I’ll take some leave and start recording.”

Stowe is the lead singer of his group. He sings alongside his younger bother Jonathan, on bass, and his school friend Brittany Gibson, on guitar. The band has been playing together since high school.

Anyone else out there “play and fight”?

To learn more about Stowe and his band, please visit Military.com.

Robots to help Protect

by CPT Stephen Hefler Military News VCA

Robot systems that have been created by the U.S. Army can decrease the exposure to danger to the American war-fighter.

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command is displaying robots and invited the public to use them. The displays of the robots were a part of the many activities surrounding the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

These robots perform artillery protection and they can protect soldiers from potentially lethal situations. Each of the robots that have been created have unique characteristics that serve a specific duty. These duties may include looking under vehicles for explosives, lifting objects weighing 10 to 15 pounds, and some can even go up and down stairs.

They are remotely operated and a majority of them have cameras that transmit back to the person, or war-fighter, controlling the robot. To control them, the Army Tech Zone uses remote controls that are the same as the ones used for different game systems, such as Xbox and Playstation. They have also used the Wii controller and an iPod touch.

“These machines are well-developed and have been tested in the field — third and fourth generation robots specifically designed for the Warfighter,” said Marcus Randolph, computer scientist for the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.

“It’s the Soldiers behind the technology that make the Army. Just as the Soldiers drive the Army, the Army scientists support the Soldiers,” said Randolph. “We are always looking for the best and the brightest to come aboard and do what they can do to support their country.”

For more details, please visit Military.com.

The Knickerbocker Greys Annual Winter Review

by vcasny History Military News New York

The Knickerbocker Greys is the oldest after school activity in the United States.  They will be holding their 129th Annual Winter Review this Tuesday 11 January at 1800 hours at the Park Avenue Armory.  Please see the attached PDF for the official invitation. Family and friend of the Knickerbockers are invited.

Under the command of LTC(P) David J. Menegon, USAR, the cadets of the Greys “undergo a series of experiences over the years that build leadership, self esteem, character, confidence, social skills, etiquette, patience, empathy, perseverance, enthusiasm, public speaking, and problem solving.”

For more information please go to their website, or their Wikipedia Page. You can also read about them in the December 2010 issue of Town & Country.

 

Homeless Veterans Burial Program begins in NY

by vcasny History Military News New York Patriots Veteran

They served our country with honor. They were willing to be sent to wherever our government would send them. They did their time during WWII, Korea, Vietnam and peacetime. Some may have been scarred, some may have simply been down on their luck, and others may have come home to a country that at one time may not have revered their Veterans. I don’t know. “There but by the grace of God…”

Today Saturday 8 January 2011,  at 1100 hours, 20 homeless Veterans will receive Military Honors thanks to the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program. The Veterans, all New Yorkers, will be interred at Calverton National Cemetery. Keynotes will be delivered by congressman Tim Bishop representing the 1st District (NY), and Steve Israel representing the 2nd District (NY).

If you are near Suffolk County today, The Veteran Corps of Artillery encourages you to pay respects.

For the full press release go here.

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