Post membership enjoyed good food, fun games and comradeship at the annual post picnic at the Seelig’s Aug. 7, 2021. Thank you to everyone who organized and participated!
News
Youth Essay Entries Due October 31
Do you have a grandchild looking for some money for college? Do you know a student who is a thinker and has good opinions? Do they like to write?
The VFW has a program for them!
High school students can enter the Voice of Democracy contest. Here’s a link to the rules and entry form: https://bit.ly/2lJlE0g.
Middle school students can enter the Patriot’s Pen contest. Here’s the link to the rules and entry form: https://bit.ly/2mKrezW.
Elementary students in grades 3, 4 & 5 are encouraged to enter the special Youth Essay program run by the Washington Department, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Here’s the link to the rules and entry form: https://vfwwa.org/di/vfw/v2/default.asp?pid=79734.
Please submit entries to Quartermaster Rodenberger by Oct. 31. Good luck!
August 2021 Newsletter Posted
Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s August 2021 newsletter is posted here. Highlights include: Enjoy Summer Fun and Comradeship at the Post Picnic; Comrade Ellingboe’s Photos from Vietnam; Spaghetti Fundraiser: Save the Date; American Forces Travel Privileges Extended to Eligible Veterans; Veteran Discounts Available Year Round; and Veterans Could Be Targets of Pension Poaching Scams
Spaghetti Fundraiser: Save the Date
The post’s annual Spaghetti Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 starting at 5 pm. We plan to host a wonderful dinner, courtesy of Chef Kay and a raffle for select items. We’ll also host a virtual auction for big ticket items. If you have an item to donate, contact the post at [email protected].
We anticipate it will look like our past fundraisers but specific details will be announced closer to the date. Stay tuned!
John Ellingboe – Photos from Vietnam
Pictured far right, Comrade John Ellingboe, then a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Fire Support Base Buttons at the base of Nui Bau Din, Vietnam around June 1970. He served as a radio operator. 
With the Poplar Forces on a Mine Sweep near Tan Linh, NW III Corps. The Poplar Forces were Vietnam’s equivalent to our National Guard. 
Monsoons! The village of Tan Linh where many of the buildings were damaged or destroyed. 
This is where I lived for three months with the Popular Forces. Very difficult life for these people. 
Notice his eyes. This picture was taken on a road in the NW III Corps. 
The “Traveling Preacher”! They went to places most people would not want to go to give comfort to the troops. This is a group of soldiers from the 199th Light Infantry. 
Louie, age 17 and a son of one of the families, would act as a translator. He would soon be drafted into the ARVN. 
Mama San. When I was living with the Popular Forces, she did my laundry for 3 months for free. The village is in the background. 
“My Three Sons”: Tan, Dai, and Gong. I was told that these three brothers’ parents were killed by the VC. They adopted me as their Papa San; I was an easy target. These kids were survivors. One night there was a little gun fire, I directed them to stay down. Their response was, F….ing VC. As I have said before, “There are no noble wars, especially Vietnam, just noble warriors.” 
“Fear and Despair.” If you look closely at the two women in the next two pictures, you may see the same thing. They called me “Beaucoup GI,” they didn’t see many guys my height. In the background, you will see men from the 199th Light Infantry who stopped by for a short visit. The jungle is in the background. 
Mother and child in a war-torn country. 
This picture is of a war correspondent from Australia, interviewing the troops from the 11th Armored Cavalry at Fire Support Base Buttons near the Cambodian border. 
In my opinion, the heroes were not the generals, but the combat medics and helicopter pilots. This is Doc Spencer making a house call. 
Louie’s parents. 
John near the village of Tan Linh, which appears to be a Buddhist Monument.