ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The 9 January General Membership Meeting will feature the swearing in of your new President, Gerry Berger, and a couple new board members.  The meeting will be held at the Arizona State Veteran Home, Phoenix (4141 N. S Herrera Way, 85012) starting at 10:00a.m.

Tom Hessler
AVHOFS Outgoing President
Class of 2007

As we look forward to 2019, I hope you will continue your support of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society mission.  Our collective participation will honor those who have honored all Americans with their service to our community, state and nation.  Wishing all a very Happy and Healthy and Wondrous New Year.

Gerry Berger
AVHOFS Incoming President
Class of 2016

12 DECEMBER 2018 AVHOFS BOARD BRIEFS

1.  Two new donations to the Scholarship Fund have been received this month.  So far in 2018, 43 members have donated a total of $4,295.12.  Donations for 2019 will start in January.
2.  Newly revised nominations and criteria for recommendations for selection to the AVHOF are now available on the Unified Arizona Veterans website (http://azuav.org/).
3.  UAV Hall of Fame workshop to assist in preparing nominations will be held from 0930-1130 on January 16, 2019 at Liberty Hall in the Phoenix Veterans Home.
4.  Members are encouraged to attend the Veterans Heritage Project annual dinner to be held on March 9, 2019.  Society member Rick Romley will receive the Storyteller Award and the real Forrest Gump will be there.  For details go to:  https://veteransheritage.org/
5.  The new Operating Instruction #3 (Security, Inventory & Control of AVHOFS Material Resources) has been approved and will soon be available on the Society website.
6.  Members are asked to report other member’s deaths as they become aware of them. The Society has a Program for Funeral Honors and Flag Presentation. Member losses are also posted in the Society newsletter.

Dennis DeFrain
AVHOFS Secretary
Class of 2013

CENTURY CLUB INFO

It’s the beginning of a new year and as promised, below is a listing of Society members who contributed to our Century Club during 2018.  We didn’t reach our goal and it occurred to me that many of you may be thinking what is the procedure if I choose to contribute?

You may go to the Society website and along the top choices you’ll see DONATE.  When you click on DONATE it will give you two choices; Donate Online or Download Form to Donate by Check.  If you donate online, you may use any major credit card.  It will lead you along and is quick and easy.  If you donate by check, the donation form will be quite clear and will also tell you where to mail your completed form and check.

Why not start the year with a resolution that you’ll contribute to a wonderful cause and be among the first to start the New Year on a positive note.

Our annual goal is $5,000.  Here is how well we have done over the past few years.
2013 - $3,300          2016 - $4,480
2014 - $3,350          2017 - $4,300
2015 - $4,700          2018 - 4,295.12

Jerry Wojtas
AVHOFS Treasurer
Class of 2011

The Country Store will open March 1, 2019 and accept orders from that date until April 13, 2019.  At that time it will close for all orders.  In the meantime, you can browse the store and decide what you want to order when the store opens again.

Roy McClymonds
AVHOFS Quartermaster
Class of 2017

Please let me know if you would be interested in serving on this committee.  Contact me at elnjoeng@cox.net or 653-566-9299.  We will keep you informed as we pull everything together.  You should have received your SAVE THE DATE postcard.

Eldora Engebretson
Class of 2002

Individual ticket sales and table sales are now open for Veterans Heritage Project's "Saluting Stories of Service" Celebration fundraising dinner.  Organize a table of your friends and save $50 per person.  At the March 9 event you will get to meet special guest, Medal of Honor Recipient Sammy Davis, known as the "real Forest Gump", dance to big band swing music, perhaps win a trip to Washington DC, and most importantly, support the connection between veterans and students through VHP's oral history program.  Click here to purchase your ticket, learn more, or contact VHP at 602-218-4036 x 101. 

Most of our Society members are very active in their communities.  Veterans Day will be upon us shortly.  You are invited to send in pictures of our “Members in Action”.  Be sure to identify the members in the pictures.  We will select a few of the best for publication.  Please send to me (Tom Hessler) at tjhessler@cox.net. 

THANKSGIVING ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY

Three Veterans Organizations, Wings for Warriors, Honor House and Veterans First work together to deliver Thanksgiving meals to Veterans in need across Maricopa County. 

INDUCTEE HELPS VETERAN’S SPOUSE
Gary Drumheller (Class of 2013), a Sun City Elks Veterans Chairman, received a call from Boyd Smith, who asked if they could be of assistance with a motorized power wheelchair for a veteran’s wife, Mary Gloski.  Her husband, John is a 90-year-old World War II Navy veteran.  It took only a week when the Elks member donated a motorized vehicle. After the chair was repaired and upgraded, it was presented to Mary.

Request you let me know as soon as you know of an inductee’s passing.  If available, I would like to know the inductee’s name, date of passing, funeral and memorial service details, and a copy of the obituary.  Here are Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame inductees that passed in 2018.  They are:
Robert S. Delsi (Class of 2015) passed 1 March
Elmer Urda (Class of 2007) passed 15 May
Claudia Johnson (Class of 2007) passed 4 July
Ralph T. “Tom” Browning (Class of 2008) passed 7 July
Thomas W. Stephens (Class of 2004) passed 13 July
Jesse Gersten (Class of 2004) passed 31 July
Arthur G. Sloane (Class of 2008) passed 6 August
John S. McCain III (Class of 2010) passed 25 August
Pete Rosales Sr. (Class of 2015) passed 29 September
Edwin Gene Spruce (Class of 2008) passed 6 October
Luis Salaverria (Class of 2012) passed 28 December

By Lea Seago - Class of 2013

For the United States even today, this huge, cold country is known as enemy #1, Russia.  However, during WWI Germany was the enemy for the entire world, or so it seems.  Belgium, France, England, Arabia, South America, Mexico and Russia had to face German troops on land and sea.  Russia, like Europe, had to face the enemy in trenches filled with mud to the waist; soldiers had to suffer as well with rain and snow, many times fighting hand to hand and with bayonets.

The population of Russia contained a large percentage of poor peasants with little clothing, and scant amount of food.  The meals consisted of tea and a few crumbs of bread.  The men/soldiers were absolutely living for the next swig of vodka.  The Russian military was filled with the hungry and desperate.

Along comes a woman, willing to fight for mother Russia.  She had been abused and was hungry.  Known also for her resourcefulness she applied to the Tsar for permission to serve her county.  Alas, he indeed gave it.

Maria Bochkareva, was fearless.  She fought hard and could easily use a bayonet.  She pulled many of her wounded comrades to safety.  Maria called YASHKA was respected by her subordinates and the Tsar.  She fought with the Regulars from 1914-1917, she did not disappoint.

In April of 1918, Maria made a trip to the United States with the help of Florence Harriman.  She met with President Woodrow Wilson in July.  She told him her story and how troops were needed to save her mother Russia.  The president agreed to send 5,000 American soldiers to join the allied campaign in Archangel and Murnion while another 8,000 soldiers were to be sent to Vladivostok.

Maria, YASHKA, was best known for her organization and training of “The Battalion of Death”, an all-woman group of soldiers.  They actively fought the Germans until the Bolshevik Revolution was changing to war within. In 1918 the uprising spread to almost every Army and some Navies.  The successful Bolshevik Revolution in Russia was galvanizing socialists across Europe. 

The 85th Division was activated at Camp Custer Michigan on 5 August 1917.  The 85th was established as part of the National Army and immediately began training to be part of the troops sent to Europe in WWI.

On 11 July 1918, the 85th received orders to sail from Boston, New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia.  Arrival in Liverpool England occurred on 3 August 1918.  At that time the 339th Infantry was detached and sent as the American Contingency of the North Russia Expedition based at Archangel.

The campaign in far northwest Russia was cold and prolonged.  The Custer soldiers of the 339th were named the “Polar Bear Regiment”; they served with British and French troops.  Waist deep in snow and mud the temperatures dropped to 40 degrees below Zero.  The battles were to last well into 1919.

On the evening of 12 October 1919, the last of the Allied forces set sail from Murmansk for England.  Unfortunately the Bolsheviks recaptured Archangel four months after the Allied forces moved out.  It is a special note that Germany was never concerned with Archangel.  So Archangel proved to blight forever the good name of America when soldiers write the history of WWI.  It is never mentioned this ended America’s share of the war with Russia.

My Army Reserve unit, 85th Division in Chicago and Arlington Heights, Illinois wrote their history regarding activation which included the North Russia Expedition and the Polar Bears.  Our Division during my time included Tanks and Armored Cavalry.  We performed simulated battles and developed battle plans for the Army.  I served as the Supervisory Management Logistician, G-4 and as the Division Logistics Sergeant Major.  I served through many of our exercises and battles as acting Division Command Sergeant Major for General Cockerham, (Special Forces).

We have come a long way---however?  Facts to Ponder:
Female recruitment in Russia went against army regulations; the all-female battalion was granted special dispensation.  The Battalion of Death was the first women’s battalion to be organized in Russia.  About 2,000 women were volunteers for this endeavor, but because of the strict discipline and thorough training all but 300 left the unit.
On 15 May 1920, the order was given to execute Maria Bochkareva.  On 16 May 1920, in Krasnoyarsk, she was shot on the order of the Siberian Cheka head.  Some say she was not executed but escaped to Kharbin China, married and changed her name.
Socialite Florence Harriman, was a founder of the Colony Club, the first women’s social club in New York.  During WWI she served with the Red Cross Motor Corps and was appointed by President Wilson chairman of the Committee on Women in Industry of the Council of National Defense.  When she was 92, President John F. Kennedy awarded her the first “Citation of Merit for Distinguished Service”.

9 Jan 19            
Annual General Membership Meeting at the Arizona State Veteran Home, Phoenix.

9 Mar 19
“Saluting Stories of Service” celebration dinner, Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas.

16 Mar 19
Patriotic Awards Dinner (formerly the Patriotic Gala), Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas.

31 Mar 19
Postmark deadline for submitting nominations for the Class of 2019.

30 Jun 19
Postmark deadline for submitting nominations for the Copper Sword and Copper Eagle.

30 Sep 19
Postmark deadline for submitting nominations for the Copper Shield and Copper Star.