Jim Monroe AVHOFS President Class of 2014

Fellow Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame members.

It appears summer has arrived here in Arizona, and we all have a few hot months to look forward to. Society activities are light at this time, and I plan to suggest to the Board of Directors that we go dark during the months of July and August. If we do this, you will continue to receive communications from me on items of importance.

Unfortunately, we have lost several of our members recently. Allen “Gunner” Kent passed on 17 May and George Kirmse passed on 23 May. Sending out the emails informing you of the passing of one of our members is what I most dislike about this position. However, informing you of services planned for these Society members is important, allowing those of you who want to engage in honoring these members by attending and participating in their services the opportunity to do so. I have had several emails from fellow Society members expressing that we have lost far too many veterans recently. I absolutely agree! Your Society presents a cased Arizona Flag and a Citation to next of kin upon the passing of the member.

Be advised that plans are in the works for the selection of the 2022 Class of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame. This is the responsibility of the Unified Arizona Veterans and is a daunting task. Nominations for the 2022 class were closed on 31 March and the process of vetting the nominations and selecting those to be inducted is well underway. Plans for the Induction Ceremony are also underway for the event to be held in October; date, location and specifics to come. This is always a stellar event with opportunities to meet our new members and see others that you may not see very often. So, make a commitment to join this celebration in October. You will be glad you were there.

Have you heard of the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, often referred to as “Six Triple Eight”? I confess I was not aware of them until a few days ago. Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Congressional Gold Medal Recognition Ceremony specifically honoring two of the 6888 members, Major Francis Griffin McClendon, USAF, Ret. Army Veteran and Corporal Lydia Thornton, US Army veteran, deceased. This event was organized and hosted by the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen and was held at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa. Colonel Wanda Wright, Director of Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services was in attendance representing Governor Doug Ducey. Major General Kerry L. Muehlenbeck, Adjunct General of Arizona, made the presentation of the Certificates for the Congressional Gold Medal to Major Griffin and two daughters of Corporal Thornton.

The 6888 was a WWII Battalion comprised of 855 black women, both enlisted and officers, and was led by Major Charity Adams. It was the only all-black, all-female battalion sent overseas during World War II. The 6888 took on the responsibility of organizing and accurately distributing a backlog of some 17 million items: letters, cards, packages from home etc. Upon arrival they were faced with large warehouses stacked floor to ceiling with sacks of mail. It was a daunting task and one that had never been attempted previously. The 6888 organized itself and, working eight-hour shifts 24/7, managed to get all 17 million items delivered to our troops in three months. Their moto was: “No Mail, No Morale”. The history of the 8666 is fascinating and you can find out more by doing an internet search on 8666 Battalion. Very interesting history and worth a read.

If you attend an event, such as the one I detail above, and would like to share your experience, please present an article for consideration to Tom Hessler, our esteemed Patriot Editor, tjhessler@cox.net I know our members are involved in many things. We would enjoy hearing about what you do.

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

The end of our fiscal year is fast approaching.  When it started 11 months ago, it seemed as if the 30th of June would never come.  We still haven’t reached our $10,000 goal in our Century Club.  As of this date in May, we currently show $9,071 contributed.  Let’s all do our best to reach our $10,000 goal.

Below is the current listing of Society contributors to our Century Club since 1 July of 2021.

One area that I haven’t talked about much is out Veterans’ Court program.  Sam Young, Class of 2012, coordinates the many facets of this program.  He inventories the graduation coins, the bus passes and other materials that are distributed to the various court locations.  He recently received a letter from one of the court judges that addresses how important and well received is this program.

Dear Mr. Young,

Hello!  This is Judge Semon with the Veterans’ Court.  I just saw the new coins you sent for our graduates – a bit larger and with the added Space Force logo.  I love them!  Very nicely done!

I want to thank you and the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society, and apologize for not having contacted you sooner.  You are all AMAZING, and the support you provide means a great deal to us and our Veteran defendants.  I would love for you to see, anytime you want, how our defendants’ faces light up when I present them with these challenge coins upon graduation.  It is a beautiful thing!

It means a lot to me also that I can have something so special to give them after they have put so much work into changing their lives.  In fact, it is so meaningful to them to receive a gift like this that we are working on incorporating other small incentives/rewards to give to our Veteran defendants after certain accomplishments in various phases of the program.

So, thank you so very much!  Please know that you are greatly appreciated! Now that the Covid protocols are relaxed, if you ever want to come and visit us during a Vet Court session and see some graduations, please let me know.  We would love to have you over.  In the meantime, these coins mean so much to us, and it is a real blessing to have them for our graduates.  Thank you.

Kind Regards, 

Judge Thaddeus Semon
Tucson City Court
Regional Municipalities Veterans; Treatment Court, Program Director

What a heartwarming letter!  It really should make ALL Society members feel especially proud to be involved in such a great effort.  By the way, if you ever want to visit the court, contact the judge and find out the time and place.

CENTURY CLUB DONATIONS (FY Goal is $10,000. Total to date is $9,071)

BLACK- up to $100  GREEN - $101-$199   BLUE - $200-$299   RED - $300 and above GOLD - $400 and above

Listed below are those who have contributed so far in 2021.

The Phoenix 32nd Street VA Clinic is a new state-of-the-art facility located at 400 N. 32nd Street, in the Gateway Neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. The new facility will consist of approximately 203,000 net usable square feet of clinical space and approximately 1,370 parking spaces. The clinic will include a Veterans Resource Center, Education Conference rooms and a canteen that will have ‘grab and go’ food offerings and small retail store. The new facility will enhance the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System outpatient services by decreasing wait times, improving workload and space gaps as identified in the Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) process and providing primary care exam room configuration in accordance with the Patient Aligned Care Team model to meet projected demand for services. Clinical services include Primary Care, Mental Health, Specialty and ancillary services.

As you know, Arizona is home to more than 500,000 veterans. Many of these valued members of our community turn to their faith for support, healing and connection. That is why the Arizona Coalition for Military Families is partnering with members of the faith community around the state to build the Be Connected Faith Network. 

Faith communities are in a unique position to serve veterans and their families since veterans tend to look at faith communities as a trusted source of help and support. Faith communities can foster a sense of belonging for veterans which can be a key part of a community’s overall effort to reduce veteran suicide. Spiritual connection gained through discussion, activities and events can provide hope, reduce isolation and be a springboard to promote other healthy behaviors.

The Arizona Coalition for Military Families is reaching out to the faith communities in Arizona and encouraging them to join the BeConnected Faith Network. As a member of the Be Connected Faith Network, faith communities receive resources to share and no cost training so they can be a more effective helper of veterans and their families. Through this network we can ensure that every faith community becomes a source of support for Arizona’s veterans and family members.

To find out more about the BeConnected Faith Network, click on www.connectveterans.org/faith or contact Mike Wold at Michael_w_wold@msn.org or 651-687-9767. Please consider approaching the leaders of your faith communities and encouraging them to join the BeConnected Faith Network.

Mike Wold
AVHOF Class of 2019

Request you let us know as soon as you know of an inductee’s passing. If available, we would like to know the inductee’s name, date of passing, funeral, and memorial service details, and a copy of the obituary. Send notices to Jim Monroe at j.c.monroe@cox.net.

Known members that passed in 2022.

RITA BROCK-PERINI (Class of 2013)

Rita Brock Perini passed away on Monday, April 18, 2022. Rita was born on October 17, 1938 in Phoenix, AZ, to the late Pedro and Eleanor Abeytia. The first of ten siblings, being an older sister inspired her to become a nurse at a young age. After attending St. Mary's High School, she received her nursing degree at St. Joseph's School of Nursing, and later her BSN at Arizona State University.

After 10 years of nursing, Rita was commissioned as First Lieutenant, and later promoted to Captain, in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps. She served from 1968-1971, providing care to thousands of soldiers and giving guidance to young nurses in the largest Air Force hospital in the U.S. during the Vietnam War. After her service, she worked as a Federal Inspector and nurse consultant for the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services in Georgia, retiring as a principal medical fraud investigator in 2003.

Rita served as Commissioner on the Phoenix Military Veterans Commission, an advisory group to the Mayor from 2004-2014. In 2006 she co-chaired the Committee which established the Veterans Hospitality Room, now known as USO Phoenix at Sky Harbor Airport. For 20 years, Rita was active and held various leadership positions with the Veterans Medical Leadership Council, an organization that helps advocate for quality medical and mental health care for veterans and raises funds to help veterans experiencing hard times. In recognition of her service and dedication to veterans, she was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2013.

Rita is survived by her son, Craig Philip Echeveste (Maria), granddaughters, Stephanie (Jeremy), Valerie (Ben), Emily and Alicia, and great granddaughter Manuela; and siblings Josie Quinby (John), Cecilia Bushman (Marvin), Armida Maxey, Sylvia Whitman, Belen Coffman (Larry), Bernie Abeytia (Aurelia) and Barbara Abeytia, and many nieces and nephews. Rita is preceded in death by her parents, Pedro and Eleanor Abeytia, brother Benny Abeytia and sister Margarita "Pinky" Abeytia.
Rita lived a full life, dedicated in service to family, community, and country. She will be missed by many.

ALLEN “GUNNER” KENT (Class of 2014)

Allen “Gunner” Kent was a past VFW National Commander and Adjutant General. He was elected VFW National Commander at the organization’s 95th national convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1994. After his term, he served as the Veterans Service Organization Liaison in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C., until being appointed the VFW Adjutant General in 2005. He would hold this position until his retirement in 2013.
Gunner was on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1958 until 1982.  During this time, he served as a Drill Instructor, Recruiter and as a team member with the 17th Interrogation and Translation Team, 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions in Vietnam in 1967-68.  He also served on a six-month assignment with an Army advisory group and participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of U.S. personnel from Saigon on April 29-30, 1975.
During his military service he received a Bronze Star with Combat V, Navy Commendation with two stars, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with four stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one star, National Defense Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal with two stars, Marine Corp Unit Commendation with two stars, Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Deployment Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Civic Action Ribbon as well as several unit commendations, citations and foreign decorations.

His VFW activity began in 1968 when he joined Post 2811 in Gainesville, Florida. He served as chairman of the Americanism Committee, vice chairman of both the National Legislative and National Security and Foreign Affairs committees, and was named All-American Post and Department commander. He was selected as Arizona's 1979 "Young Vietnam Veteran of the Year” as well as inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2014.

Gunner was a Gold Legacy Life member of VFW Post 9972 in Sierra Vista, Arizona. He was also affiliated with the American Legion, AMVETS, Military Order of the Cootie, Marine Corps Mustang Association, Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Intelligence Association, Marine Corps Interrogator Translator Association and Vietnam Veterans of America.
Gunner left an everlasting mark on the VFW, working tirelessly on behalf of America’s veterans, service members and their families. He will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Becky Kent of Sierra Vista, AZ; his two loving children; daughter Kim (Jim) Harney of Sierra Vista, AZ and son, Allen Kent, Jr (Michelle) of Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. 4 grandchildren – Topaz, Dakota, Patrick (Michelle) and Travis and two great grandchildren – Kimberly and Brooke and his beloved dog, Max.