Hodgepodge

American Airlines SAYS "ThAAnk you!" to Our Military with
System-Wide Fare Sale for U.S. Armed Forces Members and their Families

FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, has launched a new system-wide fare sale for travel exclusively for members of the U.S. military on active duty and their dependent family members.

Members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, National Guard and Reserves on active duty and their dependents are eligible. The special fares require only a three-day advance purchase and are available to all 250 airports worldwide served by American and American Eagle for travel through Feb. 12, 2004.

"We want to show appreciation to our men and women in uniform, and their families, for the many sacrifices made during Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Dan Garton, American's executive vice president-Marketing. "What better way to make it easier for families and friends to get together than special low fares?"

Congressman Mike Honda (D-Calif.), member of the Aviation Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, said: "I commend American Airlines for giving our men and women of the armed services and their families relief. I have been working hard on this issue in Congress, and am delighted that American Airlines has answered the call. Now it is time for the other airlines to step up to the plate."

Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), member of the Aviation Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, added: "Members of our armed forces and their families continue to make great sacrifices defending our democracy. I commend American Airlines for acknowledging their sacrifices by offering these military discounts and reduced restrictions, which follows the spirit of legislation Congressman Honda and I have introduced in Congress."

Sample Round-trip Military Sale Fares*
Seattle-Orlando                                 $198
El Paso-Boston                         $262
Raleigh/Durham-Los Angeles              $278
San Diego-Chicago                       $278
Washington D.C.-St. Louis                       $201
New York City-Miami                     $184
Chicago-Frankfurt                       $516**
Los Angeles-New York City               $268
St. Louis-Cancun                        $360
Dallas/Fort Worth-Paris                 $516**
Chicago-St. Thomas, USVI                $583
Miami-Buenos Aires                      $535**
Dallas/Fort Worth-Caracas               $510

Because return from deployment for military personnel could extend over a lengthy time period, the fare sale allows ticketing through Dec. 31, 2003, and travel through Feb. 12, 2004. What's more, customers can earn AAdvantage^Ò miles with these fares.

Domestic sale fares require a three-day advance purchase, a Saturday night minimum stay and 30-day maximum stay. The fares are non-refundable, but no change fees will apply for changes made prior to departure. Fares are applicable all days of the week and have no embargo dates.

International fares also require a three-day advance purchase, a Saturday night minimum stay and 30-day maximum stay, with no stopovers permitted. The fares are non-refundable, but no change fees will apply for changes made prior to departure. Fares are applicable all days of the week. Select international markets have seasonal fare variations, with high-season fares applicable from June 1 through Sept. 15, 2003. Embargo dates for international fares apply from Dec. 13, 2003 through Jan. 11, 2004.

Because of the unique nature of these fares, verification of military status for members of the armed forces and their dependent family members must be done in person at the time of purchase.

Fares are available to activated Reservists, including those who are traveling within seven days of discharge from active service. Reservations may be made by telephone, but the appropriate military identification must be presented in person at the time of purchase at an American Airlines airport ticket counter, American Airlines Travel Center or a travel agency. These special military fares are not available via the Internet.

For schedule and fare information, eligible customers should consult their travel agent or call American Airlines toll-free at 1-800-433-7300.

* Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts shown are in USD. Fares are based on round-trip purchase. Fares do not include: (i) up to $18 per round-trip in local airport charges; (ii) federal excise tax of up to $3 per U.S. domestic flight segment (one takeoff and landing); (iii) September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per U.S. enplanement, up to $5 per one way or $10 per round trip; (iv) Travel Facilities Tax of up to $13.40 per round-trip for domestic flights beginning or ending in Alaska or Hawaii; (v) for Canada destinations, applicable Federal Inspection Fee of $6 per round-trip and Air Traveler Security Charge of up to $24 CAD per enplanement originating at a Canadian airport; and (vi) for international itineraries, government-imposed charges of up to $125 per round-trip, depending on routing and destination.

** Fare quoted is for "low season" only, which applies May 19-31, 2003, and Sept. 16, 2003-
Feb. 12, 2004. Other travel dates are available at slightly higher levels.

Contact:
Corporate Communications
Fort Worth, Texas
817-967-1577
corp.comm@aa.com

Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.)
Ruben Pulido Jr.,
Communications Director
202-225-3327

Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.)
April Boyd
Communications Director
202-225-1880/202-225-4182

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MEMORIAL COMMITTEE LOOKING FOR FAMILIES & FRIENDS
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Families and friends of the 1,741 service members from metropolitan New York City who died in Southeast Asia are being sought out by the city's Vietnam Veterans Plaza Memorial Committee to be part of a rededication ceremony on October 12 in lower Manhattan.

"After years of dedicated work and fund raising by Vietnam veterans - as well as contributions from civic, corporate and political organizations - the new memorial will be a true testament to the men and women from metropolitan New York who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country," explains rededication committee member Patrick Gualtieri.

"At the ceremony, we also want to honor the families and friends of the 1,741 service men and women whose names are etched on the memorial wall. We need everyone's help locating these people in the tri-state area so we can invite them to be part of the rededication," Gualtieri adds.

The newly renovated Vietnam Veterans Plaza, adjacent to 55 Water Street in the Wall Street District of lower Manhattan, will be rededicated on Friday, October 12 with the ceremony beginning at 3:30 p.m. The original site was created in 1985.

Families and friends of service members from the New York City metropolitan area who died in Vietnam and want to take part in the memorial's rededication are urged to contact:

Patrick Gualtieri
Family & Friends Coordinator
New York City Vietnam Veterans Plaza Memorial
c/o United War Veterans Council
346 Broadway, Suite 807
New York City, New York 10013-1000
Memorial Hotline: (212) 693-0157
Fax (212) 693-1475
E-mail: pat@unitedwarvets.org
Or: freedom51345@aol.com

This news media advisory was produced by Army Public Affairs-New York Branch as a support service to the United War Veterans Council of New York City.

The second bill has fewer signatures. Over the signatures on the front side of the bill is written "Co I - 23rd, 5/6/43". On the other side of the bill is written "Noble Order of Beetles, Charter Chapter, Fort Oglethorpe, May 1943", followed by the printed names "Cappy C. Delk, Bettie (Texas) Dodson, Joanne Blower, Helen Bragg, Gladys Brobst, and Irma Babour".

Purpose: Of DUTY STATION ENTERTAINMENT is to enhance the moral of our Armed Services both here and/or overseas. It has been brought to our attention that MANY of our smaller base facilities within the United States have little or no entertainment compared to the larger bases. There is a serious lack of money to have any kind of entertainment. The base funds from MWR (moral, welfare & recreation) are depleted, within each base sometime, within 30 days of receiving said funds. Leaving no money for a "big" name music personality, pro-boxer, pro-wrestling, autograph sports fair or jazz concerts. There is no money appropriated from the DOD for said FUN and Moral Boosting.

d.s.e. Status: We have/are doing all of the legal filing to be a NON-PROFIT, 501c, institution. We intend to be a charitable organization as well. Any Grants, donation, contributions received will be directed to our enlisted that may fall upon "hard times".

Competition: With the exception of the USO, still doing a majority of "shows" overseas, but very limited. The Area of Virginia and Washington, D.C. has very good "coverage" from the USO, doing a variety of shows, as does the San Diego area. It’s not the same for the smaller "forgotten" bases. To the best of our knowledge, the USO has not, within the past 8 years done a "full scale" entertainment show featuring Reba MacIntire or Hooty & the BlowFish, in the base at North Dakota or at the small facility in Corpus Christie, Texas. This is where DUTY STATION ENTERTAINMENT will be able to assist our troops.

REASON: Our research within the last 10 months has shown moral for our military at an all time "low". Allegedly, there have been 9 reported suicides in the U.S. Army for the year 2000. Almost 80% of our Military are eligible for WIC. Almost 20% report spousal abuse. Their "job descriptions" curtail 3-4 other responsibilities. Since 1989 our military reduction has been staggering. We still have 1.4 million active duty serving and representing the United States around the world.

DOD Breakdown: There is $280 BILLION in our Defense Budget. 42% goes to salaries, 27% to operations & maintenance, 17% Procurement, 13% Research & Development, 1% other. There is 1.4 million active duty serving around the world.

Is there a need for D.S.E.? : Duty Station Entertainment offices sent out 588 letters to ask our military bases about having "entertainment" brought to their base. Within a 10-month period we received replies from 388 bases requesting more information about sending them something new, different and exciting.

People needed: We need any and all people who are interested in helping us make this project work. Any ideas, suggestions, donations or thoughts will ALL be taken into consideration.

Background: The Director, Board Members and staff are all either, presently involved or retired from the military. Hence, they have all been there, seen it and done it first hand. They realize how very important a program/project like D.S.E. will be to the men & women who protect and defend the greatest country in the world. They believe in this project.

Objective: To bring enjoyment, fun, laughter smiles and a good time to our military as often as we can, for as many months as we can, for as long as we can. We want a variety of entertainment for all 588 bases.

Cost: It will be costly to do this. Talent, travel, staffs, media, insurance and the like may run approximately $4.4 million a year. A very small price for a "thank you" for the men & women who give us our LIBERTY & FREEDOM! Please help us make this project work. Price for the military people enjoying the show…….FREE!!

Attn: M. Breegle/Director
941 Cherry Street
Greenock, PA 15047
Phone 412.751.1576
Fax 412.751.3747
E-mail victoryworld@home.com

Hi... My name is Charlene Wood. I have recently been selected to be on Governor Tafts Advisory Committee of Female Veterans for the State of Ohio. Ohio has the 6th largest population of female veterans, 46,500. A survey was sent out a couple of years ago and there are only 6,000 female veterans that this committee got responses from. We are trying to find the other female veterans.

The Peabody Historical Society has begun a Registry of women with connections to Peabody, MA. This is an ongoing project which has just over one hundred women registered. If you have any connection to Peabody, MA, such as living there now, having gone to school there, being born there, please let us know and we will mail you a form. Email me at AnnBirkner@peabodyhistorical.org

We're looking for women who served in the military to share their stories and memorabilia in the first national women's history museum in the US. We have limited space, but would love to show items of issued uniforms (ie hats, boots, badges, etc.etc.) and with them, letters, photos etc, etc. We are particularly looking for WAC, WAVE, Viet Nam and Desert Storm artifacts. If you or a relative would like to loan us something for our first exhibition that will be up at least two years and will be seen by over a million people, PLEASE contact us! We would love to tell your story!! All items will be well cared for and returned.

Posted: 13 Dec 99
"Looking for Women Veterans from Reading and Berks County, PA"

On November 7, 1999, the Combined Veterans Council of Berks County dedicated a monument to the service of the women veterans in the community. I am working on a history of those women, from the Revolutionary War to the present. This history will also include civilian women working with the military during wartime. If you are a woman veteran from Berks County, PA, or know of one, please contact me at bearsandbooks@enter.net, or phone at (610) 779-2112. My name is Diane Price. I'm an Army veteran. My sister currently serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserves. Thanks for any info

The 50th anniversaries of the Korea War will begin on June 25, 2000, and continue through July 27, 2003. In preparation for commemorative ceremonies that will be held here in the United States and abroad, Korean War veterans are being encouraged to register with the U.S.-Korea 2000 Foundation. Specifically, the Foundation is looking for anyone who served in the armed forces, including the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine, for at least one day during the period June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. Actual service in the Korean theater of operations is not a requirement. Family members of deceased Korean War veterans are also encouraged to participate.

According to U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs statistics, less than 20 percent of Korean War veterans belong to any national veterans' service organization. The Foundation seeks to identify and locate surviving Korean War veterans so that it might inform veterans of and, to the extent possible, facilitate their participation in 50th anniversary commemorative activities. Retired Marine General Raymond G. Davis, a former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Korean War Medal of Honor recipient, and Foundation Co-chairman said, "We do not seek to commemorate the war, but rather the veterans thereof and the sacrifices they made to preserve democracy on the Korean peninsula almost 50 years ago."

Interested parties may obtain additional information concerning the Foundation, as well as print a copy of the registration form, from the Foundation's web site. Alternatively, individuals may request an information and registration packet by contacting the Foundation as indicated below. Please include your name and complete mailing address.

U.S.-Korea 2000 Foundation, Inc.

Along with 47 other enlisted Women Marines, we were the only women's band in the Marine Corps. It was organized by The President's Own Marine Band Washington, DC in 1943 and served until December 1945. Stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, but traveling a good bit during 1944 and 1945, our musical organization consisted of a concert band, a marching band, and a dance band. We have continued to be a closely knit group by means of a quarterly newsletter and reunions every two or three years. And yes, we play when we get together. Just as there are no ex-Marines, we prove that there are no ex-Marine musicians.

On 19 April 1998, seven women, all Sergeants Major in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves completed the Bataan Death March 25 mile walk/run, in the Women's Heavy Division (meaning with ruck sacks weighing at least 35 lbs). Our ages ranged from 35 to 45 years old. We had been training up for the event for four months. The following is a ballad written for us by a friend we call "Hawk", to commemorate the occasion of our surviving that feat.

You've heard the Legend of Sleepy Hollow
and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,
The folk lore of cowboy "Pecos Bill"
The classic tale of the "Three Muscateers".
But let me tell you of an event
with determination, courage and glory
The struggle of seven gallant women
Who wrote another page in women's "herstory".
Some called them the "Magnificent Seven",
Some called them the "Women of Rage".
So, sit back, relax, while I tell you the
Ballad of "Bubba's Babes".

It was the 10th Annual Bataan Death March
At White Sands in New Mexico
A memorial in dedication to a significant event
That happened in 1942 - some years ago.
They registered in the heavy division,
For a woman, a difficult feat...
Every year a few teams sign up and start out,
But none have ever gone the distance to compete.
The course was comprised of twenty five miles
Over mountains and desert grounds,
And if that wasn't tough enough,
They carried a pack of at least 35 pounds.

It was a little nippy that morning,
As they stood to salute the flag,
Lynn Doran, Kim Garrick, George Cleverly,
Patti Foley and Karen Wilkinsin-Maedge,
Brenda Hall and Michele Jones (Ho-Nez)
rounded out the team.
As they listened to the music play
A cannon went off to end reveille
And they started on their way.
Slow and easy was the pace
As they took on mile after mile.
Things seemed to go according to plan
All was well - at least for a while.

Trouble popped up around mile eight,
Blisters and a quickened fatigue.
Doubt had crept into a few minds
Wondering if they were out of their league.

The pace got slower and slower,
Each step intensified the ever growing pain.
Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen miles went by,
Twenty-five miles? I must be insane.
Up to the mountains, around winding bends,
More and more the course demands.
Then when things couldn't seem to get worse,
You drove on, uphill, through powdery desert sands.

Six hours have passed, no "Babes" in sight,
No communications came over the line.
Not only was this a physical test,
But it was now a race against time.
Seven hours, still no sign.
The hour slowly reached eight,
Some marchers were being carried in
Some others, it became a long wait.
But then it seemed like from nowhere
Came Lynn, Brenda, Kim and Michele,
Grinding out the last few miles
Of the course designed from hell.
Then about 100 yards back,
On the path that others had gorged,
Slightly limping, but hanging tough,
Was the "Babe" they called George.
Only two were left out on the trail,
How far back could they be?
Then, like a prayer that was answered
Came the lost babes - Karen and Patti.
All seven had come cross the finish line,
The 25 miles they had survived.
As they attended the awards ceremony,
There was a pleasant, unexpected, surprise.

As their names were echoed through the room,
Their eyes were filled with tears.
Medals were placed around their necks,
As applause turned into cheers,
To congratulate the first and only woman's team
To accomplish such a feat.
Hopefully, because of your triumph and success,
Will encourage more teams to come and compete.

So, as you continue on through life
Facing difficulties that come day by day,
Should you ever feel the need to simply give up,
Remember "The Ballad of Bubba's Babes".

New Guide Aids in Understanding Women in the Military
by J. Michael Brower

With research, as with everything else, you get what you pay for. If this Women's History Month finds you attempting to solve the puzzle of sexual harassment in the ranks, wrestling with the questions of women in combat or pondering the issue of further integrating the armed sexes, you'll do well to begin with the thoroughly documented -- though painfully pricey -- Women in the United States Military 1901-1995.

Progressive and meticulously organized, this book will provide you indispensable tools for unearthing the mystery of the feminine ascendancy taking place throughout the world's militaries. Mirroring the economic gains of the planet's women, more than 50 percent of world's brain power is reaching a new plateau of appreciation and utility through the globe's armed forces. This is particularly the case in the United States.

In terms of elevation and recognition, the last half century has proved a bountiful -- though occasionally bitter -- harvest for America's uniformed women.

Women in the United States Military 1901-1995 ambitiously chronicles these broad fields, indexing and summarizing books, electronic databases, military and civilian journals, bibliographies, theses and dissertations. The work is divided into 14 sections covering women in combat, the history of America's military nurses, women's contributions in each branch of service, female experiences in the nation's service academies, pregnancy and family concerns, sexual relationship issues, and the woman as a veteran.

Four appendices excavate gold mines of archival resources, libraries rare and popular, women's military associations and organizations and World Wide Web pages. An extremely handy chronology of women's service from 1901 to April 1995 provides the more familiar milestones of service women.

This exceedingly detailed guide cannot be done justice in a brief review. Of course, it is inaccurate to speak of the women's "contributions" to America's military -- as though they were "donations" that today's military could somehow get along without. This book never makes that common error, and always treats women as an indispensable factor in the success of many a campaign. Women have fought and nursed alongside men in every one of America's major military conflagrations. Hundreds of women served disguised as males in the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.

The book also does an exquisite job of tracing the history of women who fought in ground combat as America expanded westward. At the turn of the century the west was not yet completely "won" and from the republic's earliest days, women trailblazers had been dying with husbands, brothers and sons, exhausted rifles and bloodied knives in their hands.

Throughout the book, on-line groups like Dr. Linda Grant De Pauw's "The Minerva Center" and the "Women's Research and Education Institute" receive frequent and honorable mention. De Pauw's organization, which publishes Minerva: Quarterly Report on Women and the Military, maintains an electronic bulletin board and updates a database in association with Michigan State University, offers a free Internet subscription.

(To join, send an e-mail message to listserv@h-net.msu.edu with this message: "subscribe, h-minerva, your first name, your last name.")

The Minerva Center resource is a key to most of the other on-line sources discussed by Friedl in her insightful commentaries which run the length of the book. The copious supply of e-mail addresses and web sites gives the book a natural appeal to those who increasingly rely on the Internet and other electronic means to enrich their research. In addition, there is a thorough subject and author index in Friedl's book.

Perhaps the most important and useful feature of the book is in the summaries of articles discussing women in combat -- pro and con. This issue, the linchpin of the entire question of equality of women in the military, is made greatly more accessible with this volume and will save partisans of either side of the issue many hours in data collection.

The only fault one may find with Friedl's effort is that newspaper article references could have been more plentiful and efforts of smaller presses granted more recognition. In the main, however, Friedl's undertaking is only matched in attention to detail by volumes like The American Woman 1996-97: Women and Work, edited by Cynthia Costello and Barbara Kivimae Krimgold, (W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 1996), a vital source book of statistics for women in the military and American society in general from WREI.

(Women in the United States Military 1901-1995, compiled by Vicki L. Friedl, Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn., 1996, $69.50, pp. 251. Friedl graduated with a degree in history from the University of California while in ROTC. She served in the Transportation Corps from 1980 to 1984. Among many research positions, she has been a history bibliographer at Boston University.)

(Editor's note: Brower is a frequent contributor to the Military District of Washington's Pentagram, where this article first appeared.)
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The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940:

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of It:

When I was activated for Operation Desert Storm, it was a very difficult time for me to begin with, but I wasn't prepared for what was going to happen with my finances.

During our indoctrination by the legal eagles of the Navy, I was briefed about the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act and how they would help you with your financial status while you were gone.

The Act states: "The maximum rate of interest (including service charges) on debts incurred by soldiers PRIOR TO entering active duty is 6 per cent per year during the period of active duty. This applies to all financial obligations and liabilities, including HOME MORTGAGES, credit cards debts, and automobile loans."

This simply means that if you were paying Credit Card bills, they would set it up so that you didn't have to pay any finance charges during the time you were activated. This was a real boon, as many of you know all too well, finance charges can eat you alive. This was a godsend. All but a couple of credit card companies allowed us this.

We had our home mortgage with Farmer's Home Administration. We were able to talk them into giving us the 6% rate, but we soon were to find out, there was a pretty steep catch to this too. Here's the catch. Before I was activated, my husband was the sole money provider, as I did not work. Once I was activated, I was considered a "working person" and had income. Now, with two of us working, even though the 6% rule applied, our mortgage payment went UP, and it wasn't just a little bit either. It basically doubled our monthly payments. How's that for the ultimate snafoo?! And the most ironic part of all was, I hadn't even started getting paid for any of my "work" yet--that would come almost a month and a half later.

True Facts About Women in the Military

Did You Know - That there are the names of eight service women on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The only female Air Force member killed in Vietnam was Capt. Mary Therese Klinker.- 1st. Sgt. B. USAF. Please send any facts about women in the military to - KJLofton on America Online. I am not home all the time. Do not expect an immediate response. E-mail address: kjlofton@aol.com

HODGEPODGE

New Guide Aids in Understanding Women in the Military by J. Michael Brower

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940:

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of It:

True Facts About Women in the Military

New Guide Aids in Understanding Women in the Military
by J. Michael Brower