THE SPIRIT OF ‘776

APRIL 2011 NEWSLETTER

VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 776

“ N E V E R A G A I N W I L L O N E G E N E R AT I O N O F V E T E R A N S A B A N D O N A N O T H E R . ”

April Chapter Elections

Service Officers

Clarke Barnes Food will be served prior to the meeting,

309 944-3674
beginning at 6:30 PM (1830 hours). The
Ed Gaudet
563 343-9456 following are candidates for our April election.
David Woods Each will serve for two years.
563 391-3702

Service Coordinators President: Marlene Marolf

R.Ernest Ledjte Vice-President: Roger Granbois
563 785-6182
Tom Lemons
Secretary: John Lavelle
563 359-3201 Treasurer: Harold Hansen
Honor Guard Director: Craig Norris
Jett Bork
563 528-0636 Director: Greg McDermott
Director: Ed Gaudet
TTh
h ee NeNxetxCh
t ap
C ht a
epr ter Director: Art Heyderman
Meeting will
Meeting willbe
beheld
heldat at
the Bettendorf
the Bettendorf Public
Public
Director: Larry Witt
Library
Library atat6:30
6:30 P.M.
P.M. on on Director: Ed Gilmore
April 27.2011.
April 27. 2011.

Officers and Board of Directors

President Greg Paulline 650-3055 Dir. Mike DeGeeter 391-8427
Vice-President Marlene Marolf 391-9621 Dir. Ed Gaudet 659-5421
Treasurer Harold Hansen 391-7776 Dir. Ed Gilmore 792-2415
Secretary John Lavelle 355-4213 Dir. Art Heyderman 359-4186
Web Master Roger Granbois 650-4958 Dir. Larry Witt 388-7179
 Minutes of Membership Meeting April 2011
President Greg Paulline called the meeting to order at 1900 hours. A pledge of allegiance and a moment
of silence for all POW/MIA and all those still serving our country in uniform were observed by the
membership. A short introduction of all members followed. The secretary’s report was accepted as
published in the newsletter. Harold Hansen informed the members of our financial situation, sharing
our monthly income and expenditures. Larry Witt spoke to the members about the growth in our
membership over the past year. The honor guard has attended a number of funerals and is presenting
the colors at the River Center before the roller derby game on Saturday, March 26th as well as at the
Good Time Oldies Dance at the Col Ballroom in Davenport. The honor guard has been asked to take
part in the flag presentation before the Bix 7 Race in Davenport this July. The VSO report was from
Ernest Ledjte and Ed Gaudet. Ernest has been assisting the incarcerated veterans at Oakdale, Mt.
Pleasant, and Ft. Madison. They have assisted them in filing claims and in their efforts to receive
medical care from the VA. Steve Lowther, a service officer from Chapter 299 attended the meeting to
thank the members for providing him with some gas money, Steve works in the Iowa City VA Hospital
providing veterans assistance from the VVA office there, he is going to retire on December 12, 2011. The
membership applauded his service and thanked him for what he has done for veterans over the years.
Veterans Service Coordinator, Tom Lemons announced that he is a proud grandfather and received
congratulatory applause from the members for that happy milestone. Greg McDermott announced that
he has been active in his support to have a bill passed, Commerce SB1238, to have more support for
more service stations to have assistance available for disabled drivers. It was observed at the meeting
that at the time of the meeting, no one has made application for the chapter scholarship this year and
that the deadline is March 31. All members were encouraged by Larry Witt to consider this as an
opportunity to take advantage of this for themselves or for family members to get financial assistance
for post high school education. Art Heyderman spoke to the members of a study done that indicates that
as many as 18 veterans commit suicide per day. There is an enormous need for counseling for veterans
and especially for the newest veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Jason Kerr, AVVA
member presented the list of candidates for the April Chapter Election. Treasurer Harold Hansen and
Secretary John Lavelle will each run again, Mike DeGeeter, board of director stated that it is time for
new blood on the board and will not run, new board of director candidates are Craig Norris and Greg
McDermott. Marlene Marolf, our current Vice-President will run for President and Roger Granbois will
run for Vice President. Lyle Peterson asked if the honor guard would present colors at the Col Ballroom
and those members present responded positively. We are also planning to host a 50/50 and present
colors at Don Valley’s Car show on August 26th at North Park Mall and in September assist with the
Toys for Tots motorcycle fundraiser. Roger Granbois said that it is not too early to begin gathering
donations for the chapter’s Online Silent Auction. We need to begin organizing the advertising
campaign for this project. The 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam war observance begins, Art
Heyderman, Marlene Marolf, and Chuck Morel will serve on that committee. There are plans at the
state level and the national level to establish events to honor the service of all Vietnam Veterans. The
department of defense is the spearhead for this effort. The quarterly visit to the Iowa City VA Hospital
is March 24th, leaving from the Flying J at 8:00 AM. Art said that Vietnam Videos will be shown prior
to the next meeting, starting at 6:15. At the March meeting Art provided some snacks and because of
technical problems the videos were unavailable. Art said the problem will be solved by the April
meeting. Ed Gilmore has provided the chapter with a PX over the past decade and at the present time it
is incumbent on the members to step forward and assume this service. The chapter members thanked
Ed for his long service as the PX director. Meeting adjourned. Minutes submitted, John P, Lavelle, sec.
Special Notice: If you are a Annual Vietnam Veterans
veteran in emotional crisis Recognition Day, Facilitated
and need help RIGHT by Iowa
 Department of Veterans
NOW, call this toll-free Affairs,
number 1-800-273-8255, 7 May 2011 1000, Vietnam
available 24/7, and tell them Memorial on State Capitol
you are a veteran. All calls Grounds
are confidential.
Good Time Oldies Dance
On March 26th chapter members
conducted a 50/50 raffle at the Col
Ballroom in Davenport. Lyle and
Carolyn Peterson led the project and the
honor guard presented the colors prior to
the dance. The honor guard also
presented the colors at the Davenport
River Center prior to the start of the
Quad City Rollers game on the same
evening. A large number of chapter
members attend the dance and enjoyed
the music from our younger days. The
chapter has hosted the 50/50 raffle at this
Don Valley dance for a number of years
and are always excited to take part in the
dance and enjoy the music and food. A
large group attend this year’s dance
Here is an opportunity for you as a veteran to show your support for a unit serving our country in the
War on Terror. You can go to the web site at the end of this article and find the address to send letters
of support or to take part in the blog that this unit has created to show them your support as a proud
and supportive Vietnam veteran. Read about these brave men and women and show them how you
support their sacrifice. Feel free to send them a care package information on their needs are listed.
The Misfits are in the Southern Portion of Kandahar Afghanistan on Forward Operating Base Ramrod
conducting Route Clearance Operations. We started our year long journey in Feb of 2011 and are
expected to stay until Feb 2012. Our unit is based out of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The Platoon is
a small element of the 55th MAC, 5th Engineer Battalion. Please stop by our website frequently as we
will keep it updated, tracking our many journeys we will cross over the next 12 months. As always we
appreciate your continued support and dedication as we fight the war on terror.
http://www.rcsouthmisfits.com/THIS-IS-US.html