Carefree Truth

Issue #297, December 20, 2013

April Manchester-Miller sang "God Bless America".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1XOYvs5Urw

Don Morosic's Main Event Band did their rendition of "Johnny Be Good".  At this point, Herbert arrived with his regular camera, which is also capable of taking videos, and was standing at the back of the Pavilion.  He got the video of a WWII vet dancing with a girl from the high school Color Guard.   Barbara Hatch and one of the high school Color Guard girls also danced off to the side on my video.  He spliced them together to get this.  Enjoy! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VZqOR62ZJA 

M.C. Ted Dimon introduced the highly decorated keynote speaker, Retired Army Col. James Kelsey, who served 29-1/2 years in the infantry and in military intelligence.  He did 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam, was in Korea and Germany 3 times, and did numerous tours at the Pentagon and around the U.S.  Col. Kelsey was inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in 1996.

Col. Kelsey thanked John Crane and Barbara Hatch for involving him in the Carefree Veterans Day celebration.  His story is in the Veterans Heritage Project Book #6, the Blue book, and its inclusion means a great deal to him, as he feels it is important for veterans to tell their stories.  "It is really hard to describe what we went through." 

His topic was "The Forgotten".  He spoke of seeing black POW/MIA flags on vehicles, and said we don't hear about those people anymore.  One was Major Kenneth Bradgoth(Brad), a friend who attended college behind Col. Kelsey.  When Brad learned that Col. Kelsey's unit in Viet Nam got into serious trouble, surviving it to win the Valor Award, he wrote saying, "I want to be just like you."  Upon graduation, he joined the Army and became a Ranger.  There is a gravestone in Rhode Island with his name on it, but his mortal remains are somewhere in Viet Nam.  He and 6 others were being evacuated via a helicopter that crashed.  The other 6 were found alive and were rescued.  Brad was seen alive and on a stretcher, but they were unable to get to him.  3 months of searching commenced, but he was never found.  He died on August 14, 1967. His legacy is in Col. Kelsey's heart.  58,000 died while serving in Viet Nam.

Col. Jerry Tate, who worked for Col. Kelsey twice, died on September 14, 2013, and is buried in the Central Texas State Cemetery.  The Army asked him to stay on for a year past his 30 year retirement date, and sent him to Afghanistan for the 3rd time.  He brought all of his demons home.  It's difficult for people in intelligence to talk about their experiences, 1. because most people wouldn't believe them, and 2. because they are proscribed by law.  "He couldn't get past the fact that he was no longer fighting the good fight; he had retired.  The Army had said, 'Thank you very much.  You've done your service to the nation.  We no longer need you.'  And so, on that September morning, Jerry took his own life."  "Not all the people who fall in combat fall on the battlefield.  They can fall years later to the memories they carry with them and their difficulties in dealing with the horrors of war, the loss of comradery, the loss of friendship, the loss of being a member of the team, and sometimes the feeling that you no longer have value."

Judy Rafanelli, wife of Col. Gene Rafanelli, died June 21st of this year.  Col. Kelsey said she represents all the wives, mothers, sisters, and brothers back home who have their own struggles.  Soldiers knew they had made it through the day.  Those back home read in the papers that their loved ones units were in battle, and wouldn't know the status until someone got out of an official car in front of their house, or they got a letter from their loved one.  But there was continuous news about more fighting.  "We had a single mission, we generally knew who the enemy was, and we generally had something in our hands with which we could do something about it."  To the families left at home he said, "You're as much veterans as I am."  

Last but not least, he spoke of a gravestone in the Lorraine National Cemetery in France, bearing the name of James Harold Pittman, Major, U.S. Army, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Col. Kelsey's father, who died on September 18, 1944.  Col. Kelsey was only one month old when his father deployed, so he never knew him, but he believes his dad has sat on his shoulder his entire life.  There are 10,489 heroes buried in that cemetery, and there are 124,905 heroes of this nation buried in 24 military cemeteries around the world who we can't forget.  "Never forget that for the rest of our lives, and hopefully the rest of eternity, that hallowed ground contains the blood of the best that this country has to provide, and it's why we have such a spectacular military today.  So, I'm proud to be here today.  I'm proud to represent all the vets, but I'm most proud to be the son of a vet.  God bless you all and God bless America."               

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRnCKMzJsb8   

The Main Event Band played the theme songs of the 5 branches of Service.  Mr. Dimon asked veterans in the audience to stand during the music from their branch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E1QsiPAHgc  

Mr. Dimon informed the audience that the Packages From Home program is a tax deductible 501(c)3 organization, helping to enhance the connection with home during military personnel tours of duty.  He then turned the podium over to board of directors member Susan Haines, who said it is a labor of love which was started by one mother in 2004.  She regularly sent packages to her son who was deployed in Iraq, then began sending packages to others in his group.  It blossomed into the Packages from Home program, and about 170,000 packages have been shipped to those in active theaters.  This program depends on donations, as all expenses are out-of-pocket.  Soldiers sign up for the program on the Internet, and packages are shipped to specific individuals who are part of the program, rather then to a general area or group.  Many of these recipients share the contents with as many as 5 others.  Since the stand down, the program is targeting returning veterans with PTSD.  Hygiene bags are being given out at the Phoenix Veteran's Hospital, and the program will be represented in February at the large Stand Down event at the State Fairgrounds. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtWdyFkO4vE 

For more information about the Packages from Home Program, see Carefree Truth issue #203 at www.carefreetruth.com. 

Mr. Dimon introduced Retired Army Col. Gene Rafanelli, who did a tour of duty in Korea, 2 in Viet Nam, and spent 7 years stationed in Europe before retiring in 1993.  He then started a Junior ROTC in San Jose, CA, where he taught for another 12 years before retiring again and moving to Scottsdale.  He has been a member of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) since 1964, and is the immediate past president of the 800+ member Arizona Territorial Chapter.  He was recently inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. 

Col. Rafanelli said the AUSA is a professional Army service organization representing veterans and their families, soldiers of all components, and high school and college ROTC cadets.  It is supported by donations.  He asked that we all remember the wounded, missing, and fallen soldiers and their families, and welcome the returning veterans with the support and opportunities they deserve.  Veterans represent American character at its best.  Col. Rafanelli's story is shared in the Tan Heritage Project book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVRubynrDDc           

Councilman John Crane thanked Ted Dimon for the great job he did as M.C.  He then relayed the story of the First and Second Post bugle calls.  "British Army tradition has given us 2 bugle calls called the First and Second Post.  First Post, done in the morning, marks the start of the inspection of the camp and quarters.  The Last Post Call, or Second Post, was used in British Army camps to signal the end of the day, when the Duty Officer returned from his tour of the camp and quarters. At the end of the day, when he had inspected all the sentry posts around the camp, a call was played at each of them to signify that all was well within the garrison.  The Last Post Call had another function at the close of the day of battle.  It signaled to those who were still outside the garrison walls, either fighting, wounded, or separated from their comrades, that the fighting was done, and to follow the sound of the call to find safety and rest."  During the 18th and 19th centuries, the tradition spread to other countries, including the U.S.  "It is now incorporated into military funerals, where it is played as a final farewell, symbolizing the fact that the duty of the soldier is over, and that they can rest in peace."

Mr. Crane read his favorite rendition of Taps.  "Day is done, gone is the sun, from the wave, from the hill, from the sky.  All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.  Go to sleep, peaceful sleep.  May the soldier or sailor God keep, on the land or the deep, safe in sleep.  Love, goodnight, must thou go when the day  and the night need thee so?  All is well, speedeth to all to their rest.  Fades the light.  In afar goeth day, and the star shineth bright.  Fare thee well.  Day is gone, night is on.  Thanks and praise for our days, 'neath the sun, 'neath the stars, 'neath the sky.  As we go, this we know, God is nigh."

Don Morosic played the First Post on his trumpet after the explanation of the Posts, and the Second (Taps) Post after Mr. Crane recited the words to it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3M7pYFf7fs 

 

 

 

Councilman John Crane, who was responsible for organizing the 2013 Carefree Veterans Day event, held to rank of Lt. when he left the Navy.  The most significant positions he held on the fast attack nuclear submarine USS Parche (SSN-683) were the Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA) and Weapons Officer.  The MPA reports to the Engineering Officer and is responsible for the operation of the boat’s propulsion machinery and the reactor.  On the deep submergence

rescue vehicle Avalon (DSRV-2), he served as the Assistant

Officer in Charge.

 

 

I'm closing with a thank you to John Crane, Ted Dimon, to all our veterans, and to the people who volunteer to help them and their families.  I had the honor of being escorted to the Veterans Day event by Blaine Keith, my beloved Marine friend.  A special thanks to Blaine for his many years of outstanding service to this country. 

Photo of Blaine and me courtesy of the Veterans Heritage Project

Lyn Hitchon

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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