MARINE SEVERELY WOUNDED

Marine Severely Wounded in Afghanistan

VETS FOR NEW YORK (WEB SITE) for story on LCPL John G. Curtin. Click HERE: 

Lance Corporal John G. Curtin, a 20-year-old Wingdale native was in Afghanistan less than two months when on 15 February an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in front of him.  The blast took both of the Marine's legs, shattered his left hand, blew out his right eardrum and left a gaping hole in his right forearm.

Lance Corporal Curtin is now at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC.  His mother and older brother have both taken leave from their jobs to be with him. They are currently staying at a Fisher House but may need assistance with travel expenses.

MAIL, CARDS, LETTERS SHOULD BE MAILED TO: 

 
John Curtin 5 West
WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
6900 Georgia Ave. NW
Washington DC 20307  

President Barack Obama awards Lance Cpl. John G. Curtin the Purple Heart in a Feb. 23 ceremony at the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland. Curtin, 20, a Wingdale native, lost both legs above the knee in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. / Courtesy photo

92 YEARS

92 years of 'For God and Country'
The American Legion - March 11, 2011

March 15 is the designated birthday of The American Legion. On that date in 1919, the first American Legion caucus, held by members of the American Expeditionary Force, convened in Paris. Much as the birthday of the United States is celebrated on July 4 - the date in 1776 when patriots declared the independence of the British colonies and the spirit of America was born - March 15 is the date when The American Legion came to life.
A guidelined speech for the Legion’s birthday, drafted by the Public Relations staff at National Headquarters, is now available here. The staff drafts these speeches for various events and patriotic holidays as a template for Legionnaires to use to go out into their communities and talk about what The American Legion is all about. They are not meant to be recited verbatim; members are encouraged to amend them in whatever way best fits their situation.

Many posts throw special Legion birthday parties. Click here for descriptions of some of these. All posts are encouraged to upload stories and photos of their birthday celebrations and other activities to the blog Legiontown USA. By creating an account, members can highlight the good their posts do every day, and see the good other posts across the country are doing.

NATIONAL COMMANDER VISITS

 
National Commander JIMMIE FOSTER will be making the 5th District's Visitation and Dinner on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Watertown, NY. 

The Commander will be staying at the Best Western Carriage House.

Dinner will be served at the Carriage House. There will be a cash bar at 6:00 PM, dinner at 7:00 PM at a cost of $25 per person. Menu is:

Herb Crusted Chicken or Roasted Pork Loin

Bruschetta

House Salad

Green Beans Almondine

Fresh Baked Dinner Rolls and Butter

Coffee, Hot Tea and Decaf

Chocolate Cake w/whipped cream

Reservations for dinner choice with Guest Name and payment must be received by James Brassard, 41735 Clear Lake Road, Theresa, NY 13691 no later than 15 March 2011. No reservations after that date. Make checks payable to: Jefferson County American Legion.

Tickets will be given up at the door.

WE THE PEOPLE

This video just came out & it already has over 6 Million Hits
                                        
This is without a doubt the best video that has come out and apparently 6 Million others think so too because there have been 6 million hits in 4 days.  Please watch it again and again and send it on to others.  I believe the pendulum has started to swing so let's keep it going.

This is very well done.

Click HERE to view the video.

God Bless the USA

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY HISTORY

To commemorate the Auxiliary's 90th anniversary last year, we presented a video featuring historical photos and information at the 2010 National Convention. Click here to watch it on YouTube! 

New Website + New Name = Clearer Connection to ALA Mission

ALA e-News subscribers were the first to see the Auxiliary's new website via last month's edition. Now you're the first to know when we launch with our new domain name!

On Monday, March 14, your reinvigorated, more attractive and more informational Auxiliary website goes live to all visitors using our new domain name: www.ALAforVeterans.org.

While users can still access the website through the current URL, the new domain name readily identifies us for what we do, providing potential and current members, as well as those researching the Auxiliary, a better indication of what the ALA does for veterans, active-duty servicemembers and their families. Set your calendars for March 14!

MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER

Van T. Barfoot

Remember this man?

 On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg , Tx -- probably didn't make much news back then.

Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near   Carano , Italy , Van T. Barfoot,
who had enlisted in the Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun
positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced
through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned
with 17 prisoners of war.

If that wasn't enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.

That probably didn't make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in  Korea and Vietnam , a Congressional Medal of Honor.

What did make news last week was a neighborhood association's quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house-mounted
bracket, but,  for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were unsuitable.

He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didn't take it down. Since the story made national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this old hero who dwells among them.

"In the time I have left, I plan to continue to fly the American flag without
interference," Barfoot told The Associated Press.

 






As well he should.

And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation.  It indicates he's not real good at backing down.

This 1944 Medal of Honor citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor Society, is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyondthe call of duty on 23 May 1944, near   Carano ,   Italy . With his platoon heavilyengaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commandingground, 2d Lt. Barfoot moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawledto the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a handgrenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the Germandefense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygunkilled 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crewthen abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leavingthe prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positionsin the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newlycaptured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly athis platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposedposition directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it,while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabledtank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continuedonward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned Germanfieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to hisplatoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts,assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety.Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, andaggressive determination in the face of point blank fire are a perpetualinspiration to his fellow soldiers."