"Post 10033 History"
Chartered:
Original Location: Taegu, South Korea
New Location:
Commander-in-Chief:
"Pictures of the Past"
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History Behind the Post Name: Hill 130 Post 10033
Hill 303 Post 10033 is located in Taegu. Back in August 1950, in the early chaotic months of the “forgotten war,” Hill 303 (elevation: 950 feet), sitting about 15 miles northwest of Taegu, was a critical terrain feature controlling the main Pusan-Seoul railroad, a highway crossing of the Naktong River, and Waegwan, a small city on the edge of the hill’s southern slope. On August 14, a North Korean regiment crossed the Naktong six miles north of Waegwan. Some NKA troops and tanks headed south toward Waegwan, on what is Route 907 today, while others went around north of Hill 303, thus encircling the hill. By 0830 on August 15, North Koreans had surrounded G Company, 5th Cavalry Regiment, as well as a supporting platoon of H Company mortarmen. A relief infantry column supported by a platoon of tanks tried to reach G Company but failed. During this fighting, Waegwan became a no-man’s land, almost totally deserted. Refugees had fled to Taegu.
B Company and the tanks made new attempts on August 16 to retake Hill 303 from a battalion of 700 North Koreans. But all attempts were repulsed. To soften the resistance, enemy positions were shelled throughout the day with howitzers. During the early morning of August 17, troops from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 5th Cavalry, supported by A Company, 70th Tank Battalion, moved toward the hill again. This time heavy mortar fire stopped them at the edge of Waegwan. Artillery was brought in later in the morning, followed by Air Force planes dropping napalm and bombs, firing rockets, and strafing enemy positions. Immediately afterward, the men of the 1st and 2nd Battalions moved forward again, and this time the assault succeeded.
Although Hill 303 was recaptured, the victory was made bitter by news of a massacre of U.S. soldiers. Forty-two mortar men of H Company were found in a gulley on the hill, packed tightly, shoulder to shoulder, and lying on their sides with their hands tied behind their backs. Miraculously, five soldiers survived. They said that when the U.S. troops started up the hill after the air strike, they had been grouped together and shot with burp guns by North Korean soldiers. (In June 1999, on the 49th anniversary of the Korean War, two of the three survivors still alive revisited Hill 303 and prayed at the site of the massacre. The KVA and U.S. soldiers at Camp Carroll sponsored the visit by former PFC Roy Manring and Pvt. Frederick M Ryan, both now 67 years old.)
Although Hill 303 was retaken, the safety of Taegu was being jeopardized. On August 18, the Korean Provincial Government ordered the city’s evacuation, and President Syngman Rhee moved his capital from there to Pusan, 55 miles away. Panicked refugees poured from Taegu, clogging the roads. Because this exodus threatened to stop all military traffic and to undermine the morale of the troops defending the city, the U.S. 8th Army pressured the Korean government and finally halted the evacuation. The rest is history. In what came later to be called the Naktong Bulge, UN forces desperately held firm at the Pusan Perimeter. Only with great difficulty, however, was the communist drive halted and the NKA eventually driven back across the Naktong River.
Compiled by Tom Elliott, Post 9467
29 December 2002
Hill
303 Memorial Post 10033, is located in Taegu, Korea, and was mustered in on 8
September 1999 with 106 members on the original charter.
The
post has never been moved nor consolidated with another post.
Two
organizational type meetings were held in July and August 1999 to determine if
sufficient interest lay in the community to support a veteran's organization.
Needless to say that interest was there and still continues to propel
this post to even greater heights than ever imagined.
The
following members were our first ever-elected Post Officers for this 1999-2000
Charter Year:
Comrade
Thomas F. Haigler
Commander
Comrade
Rick D. Fletcher
Senior Vice Commander
Comrade
Phillip Moore Sr.
Junior Vice Commander
Comrade
Frank J. Sass
Quartermaster
Comrade
Ian K. Kelley
Judge Advocate
Comrade
Gina M. Noel
Surgeon
Comrade
Ronald D. Teets
Chaplain
Comrade
Tommy J. Welin
Trustee 1 Year
Comrade
Kenneth P. Swierzewski
Trustee 2 Year
Comrade
John Compton
Trustee 3 Year
The
following members, were appointed by Commander Haigler to positions as indicated
for
the 1999-2000 charter year:
Comrade
Frank J. Sass
Adjutant
Comrade
William E. Dick
Asst QM
Comrade
Carl D. Turnbow
Service Officer
Comrade
Robert N. Fellers
Officer of the Day
Comrade
Robert L. Lewis, Jr.
Guard
Comrade
David L. Sewell
VOD Chairman/Americanism/Loyality Day
Comrade
Terrance L. Mason
Youth Essay Chairman
Comrade
Fredrick G. Minkle, Jr.
Buddy Poppy Chairman
Comrade
Carlos A. Pavao
Public Relations Officer
Comrade
Patrick L. Linenberger
Safety Chairman
The
post met at various locations in Taegu from September 1999 until 1 April 2000
when we moved into the newly acquired post home and canteen.
The members of Post 10033 pledged shares or made voluntary donations of
over $4000 to fund the new home/canteen. Members
contributed several hundred hours of volunteer work to remodel this basement
facility that we leased for the home/canteen.
The official opening of the new home was held on 22 April 2000.
The ceremony was open to the general public and a barbecue was held after
the official ceremony. All monies
pledged as reimbursable shares by the Comrades were repaid within our first year
of canteen operations.
The
post immediately began participating in numerous community activities since
inception, while launching many of its own.
Some of these were, Buddy Poppy sales, car washes, savings bond award
programs (VOD/Youth Essay), Hospital Visitations, Memorial Day ceremonies in
Pusan and Veterans Day Ceremonies Seoul. We have supported or fellow Comrades as
far away as Post 2485 during ceremonies at Clark Field in Balibago - Pampanga,
Philippines. Hill 303 dedication ceremonies this same year saw us honoring our
Post 10033 namesake. In addition, we sponsored sporting events, adopted an area
of Cp. Walker Army Post for maintenance and preservation, made donations for
soldier functions, made donations of Thanksgiving packages, orchestrated POW/MIA
official ceremonies, and attended both Joint Government and Civil Korean War
official ceremonies.
That
year saw the Post recruit two Comrades who are veterans of the Korean War.
Upon
our return home, our newly elected and appointed officers took over the helm for
the 2000-2001 Term and guided us onto even bigger challenges and higher grounds.
This administration consisted of the following Comrades:
Comrade
Rick D. Fletcher
Commander
Comrade
Phillip Moore Sr.
Senior Vice Commander
Comrade
David D. Sewell
Junior Vice Commander
Comrade
Kenneth P. Swierzewski
Quartermaster
Comrade
Jimmy Hudson
Judge Advocate
Comrade
Surgeon
Comrade
Steve Lions
House Rules Chairman
Comrade
Ivan Winner
Chaplain
Comrade
Trustee 1 Year
Comrade
Trustee 2 Year
Comrade
Trustee 3 Year
The
following members, were appointed by Commander Fletcher to positions as
indicated for the 2000-2001 year:
Comrade
Ronald D. Teets
Adjutant
Comrade
Ivan Winner
Asst. QM
Comrade
Service Officer
Comrade
Officer of the Day
Comrade
Guard
Comrade
Bobby Bradley
VOD Chairman/Americanism/Loyalty Day
Comrade
Bobby Bradley
Youth Essay Chairman
Comrade
Ed McGurk
Buddy Poppy Chairman
Comrade
Public Relations Officer
Comrade
Safety Chairman
Five
months later, Post 10033 organized and sponsored Pup Tent 303, Kimchi Katz, on
18 Nov 2000 with 19 charter members.
During
this Time, Commander Fletcher was forced to resign as Commander due to a change
in work location. Sr. Vice Commander Moore assumed the position of commander
while Jr. Vice Commander Sewell moved up to fill the void vacated by Commander
Moore. Comrade McGurk was duly nominated and unanimously elected to the position
of Jr. Vice Commander. With this change completed, the smooth transition merely
expedited post agenda and affairs. We seemed to excel at each and every
challenge. Our community involvement soared as did our reputation for charity
and caring for our fellow veteran.
During
the twelve months of 2000-2001 Term, the Post not only continued, but also,
increased its sponsorship of many community events and fundraisers to include:
Jul:
Hosted District III Quarterly Meeting
Aug: Kicked off the Annual
VOD/Youth Essay Contest
Sep:
Held our First Post POW/MIA Ceremony
Nov: Buddy Poppy
Drive
Veterans Day Ceremony in Seoul
Dec: Christmas Donations to
the Post Chapel for the needy
Jan: Donated baby changing stations to the Cp Walker Chapel.
19th
Support Command POW/Missing Man special retreat.
Feb:
Sponsored Hill 303 survivors visit. Several other Korean War Ceremonies.
Mar: Hosted our first St
Patrick’s Day dinner.
Apr: Attended 19th
Support Command Medal of Honor Retreat Ceremony
May: Loyalty Day parade at
Osan AFB
Buddy Poppy drive.
Represented District III at the Pusan Memorial Day UN Cemetery Ceremony,
Jun:
Fifteen members attended the Department Convention in the Philippines.
Invited by the Commanding General to participate in the “Donning of “The Black Beret” Ceremony at Camp Walker.
April 2001
our Post Commander and Quartermaster were named to the All-State Team due to the
fact that our post led the Department in recruitment of new members for the
2000-2001 VFW year and all DPA Reporting requirements were exceeded.
May 2001,
the Post Commander was selected as “All American”, after our Post closed out
the recruiting year with 286 members leading Division 10 in the Distinguished
category.
April 2001,
Post 10033 elections were held at our Home for the 2001-2002 term, and the
following comrades were nominated and elected to assume office upon return from
the up-coming Department Convention:
Comrade
Dave Teets
Commander
Comrade
Ed McGurk
Sr. Vice Commander
Comrade
John Compton
Jr. Vice Commander
Comrade
Ken Swierzewski Quartermaster
Comrade
Jimmy Hudson
Advocate
Comrade
Tony Huber
Chaplain
Comrade
Scott Fazzina
Surgeon
Comrade
Carl Turnbow
House Rules Committee Chairman
Comrade
Jasper Sims
Trustee 1
Comrade
Bobby Bradley
Trustee 2
Comrade
Charlie Quinata
Trustee 3
June
2001 saw 12 Comrades attend our second Department Convention. This time our
Post received the following awards at the Convention. Outstanding Post 2000-2001, Outstanding Individual
Contributor Award 2000-2001, Mrs. Debbie Moore; Outstanding Programs/Community
Activities Chairman 2000-2001, Jr. Vice Commander McGurk; Special Achievement
Award for Recruiting and 100% Hospital Work Achievement, Ivan Winner.
In
addition, the following personnel were elected or appointed to Department of the
Pacific Area offices: Phil Moore, Department Chaplain; Frank Sass, Department
Advocate; Dave Teets, VOD/Youth Essay Committee Chairman, Ken Swierzewski
Inspector for District III.
Upon
our return home, the new slate of Elected and Appointed Officers take off
running. This coming 2001-2002 year will prove hard to match for any VFW Post in
the World. Take a look at what was accomplished.
July
2001. Started the new recruiting year with a big 4 July celebration
and membership drive. Signed up
fifty-six new annual and life members during the drive.
The post undertook a project with Habitat for Humanity Jimmy Carter
Workshop 2001 and assisted in the construction of twelve apartment units in the
Kyongsan area of Korea. This
project gained nation wide publicity in country and even on the National VFW web
page. Present Carter came to Korea
to dedicate the project and the Post presented him with a Post cap and Coin.
Several Post members organized a semi professional baseball team that plays in
the Class C Korean Professional league. The
team finished the season in first
place.
August
2001. Continued with the Habitat Project donating over 800 hours to
its completion. The Post Canteen
underwent many improvements and rapidly became the major fundraiser for our
Post.
September
2001 was a
bad time for our nation. Post 10033
answered the call and organized several special events during Patriotic Weekend.
They included flag giveaways, VFW wives preparing food for security
personnel, free haircuts, wreath laying ceremonies, and an annual POW/MIA
Recognition Day/Missing Man ceremony. Membership
drives have continued and we now have 345 new members signed for this year and
are currently leading Department of Pacific Areas and well as Division 8 in the
VFW National Distinguished Category.
October
2001:
Membership has increased to 450. Again leading division 8 in the Distinguished
category. The Post managed to sign
the three living survivors of the Hill 303 massacre to life memberships: Fred
Ryan, Roy Manring, and Melvin Rudd. The
Post also has three generations of the Turnbow family as members and two
generations of the Hudson Family. The
Post Home/Canteen was reopened on 5 Oct. It
had been closed due to terrorist threat in this area.
Continued working with the Operation Worthy Cause Street Children
project. There were 22 comrades at
the October meeting.
November
2001. Membership has increased to 509. Now leading both the Honor
and distinguished category of division 8. The
Post Commander and Quartermaster attended the Veterans Day ceremony at Seoul, as
well at the District III quarterly meeting.
The Department Commander, Bill Wichmann, visited the Post on 14 November
and presented some recruitment awards. Post
has one Comrade who has recruited 100 new members and four who have recruited
over 50. The Veterans Day Buddy Poppy drive resulted in $2634 in
donations. Post members served
Thanksgiving Dinner to the military folks at the dining facility.
There were 29 Comrades at the November meeting.
The VFW Baseball Team played in the league championship tournament, but
was disqualified for illegal participation.
Wound up the VOD program and awarded a $500 savings bond to the Post
winner.
December
2001. Post membership has increased to 599. The Post now has two Comrades, Jerry Spence and Ed McGurk,
with over 100 new members recruited and three with over 50 new members
recruited. We met with the Department recruiting team that came to Korea.
They congratulated the Post on our recruiting efforts.
There were 39 Comrades at the December meeting.
The Commander, District III, visited the Post.
The Department Inspector, Larry Lyons, performed the annual inspection.
There were no discrepancies. The
Post held a Christmas party for children of Post Comrades. A Post Comrade also
played Santa Claus at an orphanage Christmas party.
The Post donated $200 to needy service members during the holidays.
The Canteen sponsored the new Years Eve party, while members brought
Potluck Dishes; and attendance was 60 plus persons.
January
2002. Membership has well exceeded 600 and we take a short
breather. There are 27 members present for our monthly meeting.
February
2002. Five
Comrades attend the Quarterly District II Meeting at Post 11016 on K-16 Army
Airfield, Songnam, Korea. There are 27 Comrades present at our monthly meeting.
March
2002. Post Membership now hits 635. Nominations for next years VFW
2002-2003 Officers are opened. 28
Comrades are present for this month’s Post Meeting. Second Annual St.
Patrick’s Day Party is hosted.
April
2002. Post
Membership Peaks at 651. There are 33 Comrades present at this month’s
meeting. Post Commander and
Quartermaster is named to the “All State Team”; for the second year in a
row, after leading the Department in Recruiting and Community Activities
Reporting. Post elections are held and the following Comrades are elected and or
appointed to office:
Comrade
Ed “Guido” McGurk
Commander
Comrade
Bobbie Bradley
Jr. Vice Commander
Comrade
Dave Teets
Quartermaster
Comrade
John O’Connor
Advocate
Comrade
Joe Brown
Surgeon
Comrade
John Compton
Membership Chairman
Comrade
Bobby Bradley
DPA Activities Chairman
Comrade
Jasper Sims
House Rules Chairman
Comrade
Charlie Quinata
Trustee 1
Comrade
Dave Sewell
Trustee 2
Comrade
Mark Lawrence
Trustee 3
Comrade
Adjutant
Comrade
Jasper Sims
Service Officer
Comrade
Jimmy Hudson
Guard
Comrade
John O’Connor
Officer of the Day
Comrade
Tony Huber
VOD/Patriots Pen Chairman
Comrade
Dave Teets
Buddy Poppy Chairman
Comrade
Bobby Bradley
Web Master
Comrade
Scott Fazzina
Safety Chairman
Comrade
Patrick Franklin
House Rules Committee
Comrade
Eric Brun
House Rules Committee
Comrade
Bill Donnelley
House Rules Committee
Comrade
Jerry Spence
Fund Raising Chairman
Comrade
Joe Brown
Hospital Chairman
May
2002. Its
now official; Commander Teets is selected as “All American Commander” after
Post 10033 leads National’s “Division VII Distinguished Category” all year
long in conjunction with DPA Reporting rated at 100%. The Post is now declared
number one “National VFW Recruiter Post” for the Year 2001-2002.
June
2002.
Twenty-four Post Officers, Comrades and family members attend this year’s
annual 2001-2002 Department Convention at Pataya Beach, Thailand. An excellent
time is had by all. This proves to
be Post 10033’s year. We bring home Plaques for “Outstanding Post of The
Year”; “Outstanding Commander of The Year”, Dave Teets; “Outstanding
Membership Chairman of The Year”, Sr. Vice Commander Ed McGurk; “Outstanding
Community Services of The Year”, “Outstanding Department and National
Recruitment Post of The Year”. Not to mention a host of other Department and
National Certificates, I might add. National recognizes Comrade McGurk and
Spence as Centurion Recruiters for the 2001-2002 year.
While
at the Convention, we see Comrade Teets elected to the Position of Chaplain and
Comrade Sass Appointed as Chief of Staff while Comrade McGurk is appointed as
Operation Up-link Chairman.
Upon our return home, our newly elected slate of officers assume their positions, and quickly pick up where their predecessors left off; without missing a beat.
July
2002. The
Fourth of July sees our first membership drive for the year as we recruit 46
veterans. We have our first Officers meeting and the Commander provides insight
to the Post agenda for this coming year. 32 Comrades are present for the monthly
meeting. The Commander Represents Post 10033 at the 19TH TSC NCO,
Soldier and Katusa of the Year Awards Banquet. Newly Recruited members equal 312
by month’s end. This surpasses last July’s statistics, while Centurion
Recruiter, Comrade Jerry Spence, is on a tare. Our Post hosted this year’s
first District Meeting on the 27TH, where a good time was had by all.
Post Commander McGurk prepared a Good-Ole Fashioned Italian Diner afterwards.
August
2002.
Recruiting is right on schedule and sees us with over 400 new recruits. The
House Rules Committee has met for the first time this term while the Commander
calls an Officer/House Rules Committee Meeting this month as well; to discuss
and correct issues of concern. The monthly Post meeting had 33 members present.
Post members support the Hill 303 Fun Run on August 17TH. We also launch the Korean Peninsula’s Project Cookie Caper.
Post 10033 dispenses over 20,000 individually wrapped jumbo Chocolate Chip and
Oatmeal Cookies to assigned forces throughout Area IV Korea. Our very own Jr.
Past Commander Dave Teets and Quartermaster Ken Swierzewski greet and escort the
National VFW Ladies Auxiliary President around the Osan Air Base Area, on behalf
of District III. Post Commander McGurk makes a televised appearance on AFKN to
promote Project Cookie Caper. Our Post also receives Television coverage for its
support of Hill 303’s Fun Run.
September
2002. This proves to be a very busy and solemn month for
Post 10033, as our Post Commander takes the lead in Community Remembrance
Memorial Services. Commander McGurk provided a strong, but well tempered speech
on American Patriotism during the 20TH ASG’s Televised September
11 Memorial Dedication Ceremony. He and Sr. Vice Commander John Compton
then laid a wreath in place at the Memorial Stone. Later that afternoon,
Commander McGurk and a very large contingent of Post Members attended the 19TH
TSC’s September 11 Memorial Service. Commander
McGurk again, along with Comrade Charlie Quinata Presented a Wreath at this
Ceremony as well. During the course of this day of mourning, or Post was
represented by over 250 members at 4 separate memorials during a 16hour period.
On
Sept 20TH we performed our 3RD Annual POW/MIA Service at
the Evergreen Club on Camp Walker, Taegu. We hold it here so that maximum
community participation can be accommodated. This year, we hosted a first ever
after Ceremony Refreshment Bar for in excess of 50 guests and participants. This
event was also televised by AFKN with Commander McGurk being extensively
interviewed.
The
Post Meeting saw 29 members present. Membership recruitment sees us at over 450
new Annual/Life members while Comrade Spence leads the way with over 270. There
is little doubt that we lead VFW National Division 5 in the Distinguished
Category. We predict an easy All-American Post Commander and possible All-State
Commander for the third year in a row. The
Post Goal is to achieve 100% membership prior to the Midterm Convention and 127%
by January.
Family
Fun Night is finally re-instituted on September 27TH with great food,
Comradeship and a bit of entertainment. Plans are to indulge this event each
month.
October
2002. We now stand at 113% in membership; our Mid-term benchmark of
100% has been met and recruitment continues. Comrade Spence is well over 300 in
his quest for Recruiter of the Year. This month’s Meeting saw 42 members
attend. AFKN pays tribute to Post 10033 by doing a three minute televised
chronicle on Commander McGurk’s life in the community and VFW. This will be
aired numerous times during November and December...
November
2002,
Membership is now at 117%; we still lead National Division 5 Distinguished
category while the applications continue to roll in. New membership tips 500
this month, as we lead the Department so far this year.
Department
Commander Dick Keeley steams into town on 8 November with nothing but praise and
accolades for Post 10033’s accomplishments this year. He is utterly amazed at
the level of energy exhibited in every endeavor that we embark upon. On 9
November Commander McGurk, Past Commander Teets and Comrade Swierzewski head
North with Commander Keeley for a show of the peninsula. On 11 November 5
Members accompany Commander Keeley’s attendance to the annual District III
Veterans Day Ceremony in Seoul and our District Meeting afterwards.
This
month’s meeting sees 27 members in attendance. Commander McGurk represents the
Post at a memorial service for one of our local heroes, a Cp. Walker Fireman.
Again AFKN televises his presentation as a keynote speech.
December
2002,
Commander McGurk and Past Commander Teets headed South to Olongapo to attend the
2002 Midterm Convention, 6-8 December. Here we made re-aquantences with old
friends and comrades. Post membership exceeds 120% or 800 plus members and was
duly noted at the convention by Department as leading the Pacific. As always
Post 10033 is presented with awards; to many to list. However, the important
ones were from National, for our member’s recruitment efforts during the
previous year.
30
members attended this month’s Post meeting. We distributed checks to low
income military families with in the community for Christmas. We sponsored our
second annual Children’s Christmas Party on the 21ST.
We
are now geared up for the final leg of Recruiting for this year and predict an
appointment as Department All-State Commander and Quartermaster with a selection
as a National All-American Commander as well to close the year out. Three years
in a row is not bad by any means.
December
31ST 2002 means party time at the Post. Join our second annual New
Years Eve Bash. See you there...
January 2003. Meeting on 4 January with 35 members present. There were 13 new applications read and approved. QM statement of $21,756. Post 10033 entries won the Department Category for Teach of the Year award in grades K-6 and 7-8. Excellent showing. Post held the monthly pool tournament and potluck dinner. The Post had contributed over ^K to orphanages, hospitals, Relief Funds for the month of December 2002. The Post is leading Division 5 in recruiting with a total of 775 members. Processed application for 1 member for entry into Cooties. Letter of Appreciation and Department pins were pass out to Comrades Glosson, Compton, Brown, Cartwright, Agualo, Swierzewski, Winner, and O’Connor for their recruiting efforts.
February 2003. Meeting held on 8 Feb with 28 members present. Post Charter was draped in memory of Comrade Joe Roberts. QM report of $18,567. Purchased ROTC plaque and ribbon for Taegu American School JROTC. Presented VOD and Patriot Pen awards. Post still leading Division 5 in membership with 816 members. Fund raising committee collected $170 for raffle of diving wristwatch. POW t-shirts arrived and are on sale for $12 each.
March 2003. Meeting held 1 March with 27 members present. QM report $19,607. Fundraising committee collected $396 on a watch raffle. Post still tops in division 4 with 816 members. Donated $200 in support of senior class Taegu American School. Donated $90 to purchase helium for Military Day of the Child activities. Nominations open for Post Offices 2003-2004 year. Delegates were elected for the Department convention and Western Conference Convention. Post donated $300 to sponsor redecorating a room in the 121 Evac Hospital. Post obligated $60 per month to buy rice for Blue Bird nursery.
April 2003. Meeting held on 5 April with 35 members
present. QM report $20,121. Post was number 1 in division 5 for year. Commander
will receive an all expense paid trip to Australia. Post members will provide
road guard for the Spring Children’s Fest. Elections held for Post Officers.
Commander: Bobby Bradley; SVC: John O’Connor;
JVC: Jimmy Hudson; QM: Tim Prince; Advocate: Dave Teets; Surgeon: Joe Brown;
Chaplain: Tony Huber.
May 2003. Meeting held 3 May with 26 members present. QM report $21,247. Community services had 41 projects, 335 volunteers, 1897 hours, and $15K. Made preparations for Grand Commander Frank Sass homecoming in June. Post will also host the District Meeting during that timeframe.
June 2003. Meeting held on 5 June with 25 members present. Read 30 applications for membership. QM report $24,519. Post finished May with 884 members. Tops in Division 5. Buddy Poppy drive in May netted $1,357 in contributions. Fund raiser made $520 on coin raffle. Post obligated $500 to get pool table recovered and a new linoleum floor on the recreation room.
July 2003. Held Grand Commander Frank Sass homecoming and hosted District meeting.
August 2003. Meeting held on 2 Aug with 41 members present. Names of 41 applicants were read and approved. QM report $25,411. Community activities: 32 projects, 248 members, 2057 hours, $14K. Charter was draped in honor of William Glosson.
October 2003. Meeting was held on 4 October with 30 members present. Names of 38 applicants were read and approved. WM report $31,717. Membership committee 222 life, 32 continuous, 7 reinstated, and 147 new. Community activities: 39 projects, 233 volunteers, 1069 hours, $11K. Post obligated $1.5K to install new computer system. Post voted to old special dinner for the 1st Cav Div Association of Korean War Veterans on 20 October. Event was held and a great success with over 10 Korean War veterans in attendance. Post voted to sponsor VFW bowling team in the Military league at Cp Walker.
November 2003. Meeting held on 1 November with 30 members present. QM report $32,299. Charter draped in honor of Gary Blackwell. Membership committee reported 246 new members signed. Community programs 39 projects, 233 volunteers, 1080 hours, $11K. Fund raising committee raised $200 on world Series pools. Donated $500 to the Taegu American School cheerleader trip to Japan. Distributed project UPLINK calling cards to various units for the holidays.
December 2003. Meeting was held 13 December with 23 members present. QM report $31,886. VOD winners announced. Patriot Pen winners announced. Membership committee reported 248 new members signed. Community activities: 299 projects2455 volunteers, 14,000 hours and $81K.
2003 was a very successful and rewarding year for Post 10033. The Post led our Division in membership and was awarded an all expense trip to Australia, Commander was Selected All-State and All-American. Post was selected as Community Service Post of the Year. One of the Post members was elected as the Department Junior Vice Commander and one was elected as Commander, Grand of the Pacific, and another as Junior Vice Commander of the Grand of the Pacific.
January 2004. Post 10033 ran in the New Year with a gala ball. Service officer obtained all forms necessary for filing an Agent Orange related Claim. Membership committee reported Post with 571 members or 64%. Taegu American School sent letter of thanks for our support of their science trip to Thailand.
February 2004. Charter was draped in honor of departed Comrade Corral who was killed in Iraq. Membership increased to 66%. Several members traveled to Osan Hill 180 ceremony. Held our annual Super Bowl party and breakfast.
March 2004. Service officer processed four claims. Membership now at 71%. Celebrated St Patrick’s Day with corned beef and green beer. Donated to the Taegu American School Junior/Senior Prom.
April 2004. Membership at 72%. Post elections held for the 2004-2005 year.
Commander: John Compton
Senior Vice Commander: Jimmy Hudson
Junior Vice Commander: Mark Lawrence
Advocate: Dave Teets
QM: Butch Cartwright
Surgeon: Jasper Sims
Chaplain: Troy Stone
HRC Chairman: Jim Phillips
Trustee 3: Jesse Mc Bride
Set aside $500 to sponsor our softball team.
May 2004. May was a very busy month we had the Loyalty Day parade at Osan along with the District meeting. Also held the Memorial Day ceremony at the Pusan UN cemetery. Conducted the Buddy Poppy Drive.
June 2004. Held the Patriot Pen award ceremony. Post at 74%. Very disappointing year for recruiting since we lost our 300+ recruiter, Comrade Spence. Will try harder next year. Sponsored a booth at the Cancer Awareness Relay Event. Sponsored the Area IV Retiree Council Meeting. Several members attended the Department Convention in Saipan. Comrade Dave Teets was elected to the office of Senior Vice Commander, Department of Pacific Areas.
July 2004. Had a recruitment drive along with the July 4th celebration. Recruited 95 new members. Looking forward to a banner year this year. Comrade Jerry Spence was given an appointment to the National Convention and also received a recruiting award for recruiting 100 new members for the third year in a row.
2005-2006 year.
The Post members recruited 396 new members (40 life) and 24 instated members this year. This was 21% of the Department total of new members. The Post was at 122% and was selected as All American.
The Post participated in 470 projects, with 2,949 volunteers, expended 14,487 hours, and returned $92,039 to the community in funds, gifts, and hours.
The Post conducted Veterans Day Ceremonies, POW/MIA Remembrance Day Ceremony, Memorial Day Ceremony, Buddy Poppy Drives, and other official functions. The Post sponsored a Children’s XMAS Party, Thanksgiving dinner, Single Solder’s XMAS Party, High School Cheerleaders, several military unit functions, Taeman Mental Hospital, Commander Homecoming, fundraisers for hurricane Katrina survivors.
The Post participated in the following National VFW Programs:
VOD/Patriot Pen/Teachers Award Programs
Adopted a Military Unit
Law Enforcement Officer Gold Medal Award
Eagle Scout of the Year Award Program
In addition the Post is the official charter sponsor of the local Boy Scout and Cub Scout programs for Daegu, Korea.
The Post was honored quarterly by the Community for our involvement and contributions.
The Post donated a POW flag to the military community and sponsored numerous unit functions. The Post sent a large food and other needed item contribution to our adopted Military unit when it deployed in the support of the War on Global Terrorism.
Both the Department and District Commander were elected from Post 10033.
The Post won the following awards at the June Convention in Thailand.
All State Commander
All State Quartermaster
Outstanding Post Commander of the Year
Outstanding VFW Member of the Year
Outstanding Programs Chairman of the Year
Three members of the Post attended the National Convention in Reno.
Ronald D. Teets
Historian
VFW Post 10033
If you have anything to add to the History of the Department of Pacific Areas, either to the Department, Districts or Posts, Please Email dpahist@vfwdeptpacific.org with the information in Document format.