History – Page 8 – Ballard Eagleson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3063

Members visit Tacoma’s Horse Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum in Tacoma

By Nestor Tamayao

Recently Comrade Aaron Stoltz and I visited a museum that we never knew existed. Nestled within a residential neighborhood in Tacoma is the 9th and 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum. Founded in 2005, the museum showcases an overlooked part of American history: the Buffalo Soldiers. The museum began operating in 2012.

Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, which was formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Buffalo Soldiers later comprised other regiments, including the 9th, 24th, 27th and 28th cavalry divisions. These African American Soldiers got their nickname by the Native American tribes they fought. The term became a generic term for all-black soldier units and is used by U.S. Army units that trace their direct lineage back to the 9th and 10th Cavalry.

Notable facts about the Buffalo Soldiers include:

First to experiment with bicycles.
In 1898, saved the 71st New York in the now famous charge up San Juan Hill.
Instrumental in the victory of the Spanish American War.
Represented over 20 percent of all U.S. Calvary Units until early 1890.
19 Congressional Medals of Honor.
Five West Point Graduates.

The museum is filled with many artifacts, memorabilia and fascinating information and facts. It is one of only two of its kind in the country dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers. The other is the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas. The museum has hosted a tribute to the famed Buffalo Soldiers with an evening with famed actor Danny Glover, who starred in the 1977 film Buffalo Soldiers.

The museum is open Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more information go to http://www.buffalosoldierstacoma.org/ or 253-272-4257.

From the Commander (May 2017)

By Nestor Tamayao

I bet many of you are thinking what I am – “It’s May already!” The post will be busy this month with installation of newly elected officers, the Social and Memorial Day activities. For me, May also marks the fact that my tenure as your commander is coming to a close next month.

While many equate May to the Memorial Day holiday, for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, there is a day that has significance as it was the VFW that had it recognized. That day is May 1st, Loyalty Day. The day provides an opportunity for all American citizens to reaffirm their loyalty. Patriotic rallies, parades, public meetings, school programs and other activities are some examples that show citizens’ patriotism and loyalty to our government.

Loyalty Day’s roots are not recent. The idea to hold patriotic rallies started in 1930 to offset the Communist rallies that were held on May Day. The VFW’s involvement began with the adoption of a resolution at the VFW National Convention in 1949 to make May 1 as Loyalty Day. In 1954, the resolution was introduced in Congress and approved in 1955. It was officially recognized with the adoption of Public Law 529 in 1958.

Memorial Day gives the opportunity to honor the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It was known first as Decoration Day as the day graves of fallen Civil War soldiers were decorated. The name Memorial Day came into use in 1882. The name was declared by federal law in 1967. Some confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. While Memorial Day remembers those who died while serving, Veterans Day honors everyone who has served in the armed services.

The month of May provides citizens the opportunities to participate in activities that reflect continuing loyalty to America and honoring those who gave their lives to maintain our cherished freedoms. If you are not able to attend an organized activity on Memorial Day, you can pause for a moment of silence at 3:00 p.m. on that day to honor those who have died in service to the nation, as The National Moment of Remembrance Act of 2000 encourages.

Officer Profile: Gail Engler, Post 3063 Service Officer

Tell us about your new position and what you hope to accomplish during your term.

As Post 3063 Service Officer I help members and their family members file for disability claims and also try to educate and inform members about their veterans benefits. I am especially interested in making sure our senior and elderly veterans are aware of the Aid and Attendance benefit which can help pay for assisted living if they qualify. I am at the Ballard Senior Center the 3rd Thursday of each month for several hours and available at the post by appointment as needed. I also visit several of our WWII Veterans who reside in retirement homes and assisted living.

How long have you belonged to Post 3063 and did you previously serve in an officer position?

I joined Post 3063 in October 2009. I am now a VFW Life Member thanks to the generosity of Post 3063. I previously served as a Trustee for Post 3063.

What is your military background?

I joined the Army in 1975 right after graduating from high school. I was on active duty until June 1977 and was a Radio Operator, serving in the small town of Schwabisch Gmuend, Germany. It was quite an adventure going from a smallish town in Montana to a small town in Germany. I was assigned to HQ, 56th Field Artillery Brigade. I enjoyed traveling throughout Europe while there and my mom even traveled by herself all the way from Montana to come visit me. That was nice considering she was quite reluctant for me to join the Army in the first place. My dad didn’t “protest” too much about my joining the service. He was a WWII Veteran—a Marine who fought on Okinawa. I am so humbled by these courageous WWII Veterans and their service during such a horrible war.

After my active duty service I got out and six months later I joined the Army Reserve. It was a good way to help pay for college in addition to having the camaraderie of belonging to a “select” group of people.

I also was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2004, serving with an Engineer Battalion while living in Missoula, Montana.

I retired from the Army Reserve in June 2015 and also from my civil service career where I served as a Military Technician since 1996. My last duty station was in Marysville, WA with the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

What do you enjoy most about belonging to the VFW?

I like helping people so I enjoy being a service officer. There are many great people in our post and I enjoy working together with them to help our fellow veterans, those who are currently serving and their family members and to make our community a better place. I think we all have a responsibility to do so.

Officer Profile: Bill Griffith, Post 3063 Chaplain

Tell us about your new position and what you hope to accomplish during your term.

Last year our chaplain was unable to complete his responsibilities and I was asked if I would be willing to fill in. This year I was asked if I would like to continue as chaplain and I said yes. A concern I have as chaplain is connecting with those in our post who are unable to attend our meetings. Several people in the post have joined me in reaching out to these non-attending members. Our World War II vets are of special concern to our committee. We would value any information that you might have concerning a compatriot who is sick or perhaps for other reasons is finding it difficult to attend our meetings. We would like to send them a card of encouragement and pay them a visit if possible.

How long have you belonged to Post 3063 and did you previously serve in an officer position?

I have been a member of the post for almost four years and this is my first officer position.

What is your military background?

I was enlisted in the Army starting off as an aircraft mechanic in Korea and then as a flight operations specialist at the Presidio in San Francisco. I was temporally drafted to do clerical work at Sixth Army Headquarters working for a Colonel Lee. Colonel Lee decided that I looked like a fine upstanding soldier and thought that somehow I would do, so he entered me into the Sixth Army soldier of the quarter competition which I amazingly won. The picture in this post adorned the walls of the Sixth Army Headquarters for three months in 1966 as part of this recognition.

What do you enjoy most about belonging to the VFW?

I enjoy the community of vets at Post 3063 and like the comradeship of connecting with the vets at the VA Hospital on an on-going basis. I also enjoy the work of supporting our quartermaster and guiding the giving and fundraising aspects of post activities.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell Post 3063 members?

Although the post does many worthwhile events like visiting the VA and helping veterans with claims for service connected disabilities, I find that just hanging out with the members of the post is the most enjoyable aspect of membership. They are a great group!

After a lifetime in aviation I’m now retired. I am currently a docent (tour guide) at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. I am there most Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and I would love to give any post member a personal tour.

UW hosts post color guard at Veterans Day library event

UW Libraries held an open house at Allen Library on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, in conjunction with the current World War I-themed exhibit, “Washington on the Western Front: At Home and Over There.” The event opened with a color guard from Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063.

From left, Harold Rodenberger, Joe Fitzgerald, and Bill Hoeller in color guard formation for the UW event.

The exhibit features photographs, diaries, newspapers, letters and ephemera from the World War I era. Notes with the exhibit discuss how the UW responded to the war with the formation of a hospital, ambulance unit and training camp. About 4,000 students, staff, faculty and alumni served, 58 of whom lost their lives in what was at the time called “The War to End All Wars.”

For more information about the exhibit, go to http://tinyurl.com/jskm6gc.