From: jewell@MACE.CC.PURDUE.EDU (Larry Jewell)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: 'NamVet Newsletter, Vol.5, no.6, (3/7)
Date: 6 Sep 92 02:41:26 GMT
Reply-To: Viet Nam War Discussion List <VWAR-L@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu>


     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 29
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

                                PENNSYLVANIA
                       :============================:
                       :    Drawer A Old Route 22   :
                       : Cresson, Penn. 16630-0010  :
                       :============================:
                         George W. Burd       AJ2110
                         Vernon E. Miller Sr. AJ1004
                         Darryl Houseman      AJ1063

                                  TENNESSEE
                           :=====================:
                           :      PO Box 2000    :
                           :Wartburg, Tenn. 37887:
                           :=====================:
      John Cobb        126878 Unit 12    Myer Pettyjohn   90722  Unit 9
      James Eades             Unit 4     Bobby Tate       123531 Unit 5
      Stanton Easley   86354  Unit 2     Kenneth Teague   112717 Unit 4
      William Harris   77891  Unit 8     Charles Sprinkle 109200 Unit 4
      Grant Henderson         Unit 4     John Slate              Unit 8
                          Johnny Ottinger  Unit 14

                                  VIRGINIA
                          :=======================:
                          :      PO Box 488       :
                          : Burkeville, Va. 23922 :
                          :=======================:
      M Davenport     155165 (N-321)   William Merriman  131789 (A-66)
      M Donati        150219 (D-71)    L Rainsford       126380 (B-108)
      Joe Grace       136189 (B-108)   Abdul Shah        101250 (O-417)
      M Glennon       140901 (O-101)   Gerald Stovall Jr. 98899 (O-328)
     J Heidinger      102513 (O-421)   R Sutton          141041 (O-317)
                       Charles Ladison  138228 (O-330)

                         :========================:
                         : James River Corr. Ctr. :
                         : State Farm, Va. 23160  :
                         :========================:
     Roger Baxter     157594 D-2            Oliver Mayfield 106330 HA-2
     Luther C Beasley 110375 D-2            James Moody     160399 D-4
     Gordon Cawthron  135734 D-6            William Moran   131271 D-2
     Robert Hall      148001 HA             Preston Parker  118311 D-5
     John Harris      133342 HA             Jamal R Rashid  110781 D-2
     Thomas Hawley    139294 D-1            Matthew Sanders 166545 D-4
     Carlton Heflin   170297 D-5            Charlie Sherman 128403 D-6
     Joseph Huggins   99433  D-6            William Simmons 106399 D-4
     David Bailey     153526 D-2            David Swink     157682 D-6
     Micheal Kay      136567 D-5            Curtis Wright   125330 HA
                         Le'roi Mason    104969 D-5

                                 WASHINGTON
                         :=========================:
                         :     PO Box 1000 C2F3    :
                         : Steilacoom, Wash. 98388 :
                         :=========================:
                                Larry DuBois

                                  WISCONSIN
                         :========================:
                         :      PO Box 351        :

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 30
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

                         : Waupun, WI. 53963-0351 :
                         :========================:
      Calvin Allen        #203359           Ken Myers Jr.      #173568
      John Banaszak       #188690           Aaron Overberg     #142578
      Edward Belamares    #128592           Joe Perkins        #50736
      Merrit Burright     #5593             Robert Warren      #104480
      Anthony Cartwright  #2210911          Jose Rodriguez     #193528
      Eric Collins        #201910           Philip Roth        #168444
      Charles Coogan      #40001            Thomas Rush        #177468
      Irvin Doxtator      #16876            Ruven Siebert      #31311
      John S. Deuchars    #42641            William Selmon     #0259321
      John Erdman         #133557           Robert Schmidt     #187661
      Keith Fenderson     #210194           Wayne Schwamb      #178746
      Kevin Glover        #167916           John Stallins      #125612
      Roosevelt Hall      #180767           Charles Stephenson #179459
      Jerry Hammill       #66235            Merlin Sternitzky  #155685
      Dane Hedstrom       #125111           Gary L. Stibb      #202596
      Danny Heller        #149705           Kenneth Spears     #88927
      Joseph Higgins      #210414           Lemuel Smith       #6913
      Mark Hinton         #108536           Gary Sutton        #196088
      Colin Hutchinson    #182042           Ron Swartout       #84812
      Dale Hylok          #110660           Thaddeus Sieger    #215663
      Issac Jackson       #186188           Louis Tarentino    #184595
      John Jaenke         #89343            Ronald Taylor      #181190
      Tommy Johnson       #138644           Eric Vogliotti     #186603
      Myung Jun           #201398           Hoyt E. Vrooman    #210573
      Dereck Kelly        #209110           Bernard Watts      #177701
      Herman Krause       #39312            Richard Webb       #103925
      James Lelivelt      #26992            Milton Wendler     #135295
      Richard Lewan       #169630           Randolph Whiting   #158604
      William Lewis       #44501            Robert L. Guck     #72598
      James Lowery        #166070           Charles L. Marstan #210697
                          Robert McQueen      #5705


























     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 31
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

                         THE LIFER'S CLUB OF MCRCP
                     Who, What, When, Where, and Why ?
                           Input by: Joyce Flory
              NamVet's Incarcerated Veteran's Section Editor
                    Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM
                              (505) 523-2811

       We  are the Lifer's Club of Morgan County Regional  Correctional
     Facility (MCRCF). We are a public benefit, non-profit,  charitable
     organization formed in early 1989.   We have dedicated our efforts
     to - among other things - promoting a public awareness of the good
     that   can  be  accomplished  by  prisoners,   encouraging  public
     recognition  of the inequality (and inequity)  of prison sentences
     in  Tennessee,  and trying to do something about it.  Our motto is
     "Helping  Others  On Our Way To Freedom",  and we try to let  that
     speak for itself.
       Our Board of Directors meets regularly, and we have semi-monthly
     meetings of the general membership.   Several committees have been
     formed  for  special  projects.   We  are  supported  entirely  by
     membership  dues,  special  fund-raising  projects,  and  whatever
     donations   we   can  generate  from  our  outside  sponsors   and
     supporters.   Our  membership consists primarily of inmates in the
     Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) who have life sentences,
     but  we  have  expanded  that  to include  inmates  who  have  the
     equivalent  of  a life sentence.   It's safe to say that  all  our
     members have either served a lot of time, or have a lot of time to
     serve.  We have 'associate members',  and 'free-world'  volunteers
     who  are associate members.   These are people who -  while  they,
     themselves,  may not have our immediate concerns -  recognize that
     we,  in  most instances,  are the product of more complex 'outside
     influences',  and  support  our  efforts to  bring  these  outside
     influences  within  our  control  and focus our lives  in  a  more
     positive direction.  We have a strong core group of members, and a
     strong base of support from the outside,  consisting mainly of the
     'free-world' volunteers mentioned above,  various civic and church
     groups,  families  and  friends  of our members,  and  many  state
     employees who support our position but are not able to be as vocal
     as  they'd  like to be.   Our efforts are fully supported  by  the
     administration here at MCRCF.
        We've  done a lot of good since we started,  and we try not  to
     miss a chance to call attention to it -  following are some of our
     recent projects:

     > > > HOLLY ARMES PROJECT
       Holly  Armes is the infant daughter of Riley and Kathy Armes,  a
     family in the Morgan County area.  When we first heard about their
     problem, Holly was six months old, Riley was unemployed, they were
     disabled  and on welfare -  but those problems were compounded  by
     Holly's  being born with a condition called 'large encephalocele',
     a  birth disorder which results in the brain being formed  outside
     the skull, and remaining exposed.   At age five months,  Holly had
     been given six days to live. Riley and Kathy Armes made a decision
     that dwarfed all their other problems - they decided to take Holly
     home,  instead  of institutionalizing her,  and try to give her as
     much  love and care as they could during her life that seemed pre-
     destined  to be short.   How could we NOT help a family like that?
     The  Lifer's  Club voted unanimously to 'adopt'  the  Holly  Armes
     family,  and  join with many other concerned people involved  with
     helping  them  out.   Everyone at MCRCF had a hand in helping  the

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 32
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

     Armes  family  -   members  of  the  administration,   counselors,
     correctional officers - but the Lifer's Club made the Armes family
     one  of their first special projects,  and helped in the only  way
     they  could -  with a lot of love and support,  and a special fund
     drive  to  help  with some of their  expenses,  and  the  expenses
     incurred  by the remodeling that was necessary to adapt their home
     to  the special needs of a child like Holly.  The Lifer's Club was
     proud to be involved with this project.

     > > > TOYS FOR TOTS PROJECT
       The 'Toys For Tots'  project began as a joint effort to insure a
     Merry  Christmas for several Morgan County area families who might
     not  otherwise  have had a Christmas at all.  Toys were  collected
     from  various  sourced,  and  brought to the MCRCF Annex  so  that
     inmates could repair them.
       Many  different  organizations joined together to help  in  this
     effort,  and  several different fund-raising methods were used  to
     make  sure  that there would be enough money to supply,  not  only
     toys,  but  food  boxes and other things as well.  Names of  needy
     families were submitted by the Department of Human Services,  area
     churches, and concerned individuals. This project ballooned beyond
     everyone's  expectations,  and  -  in  the spirit of  Christmas  -
     surprised  everyone with the enthusiasm that could be generated in
     an  institution-type  setting,  where enthusiasm is  not  normally
     found.
       The  Lifer's  Club donated $100.00,  as well as  supporting  two
     individual children, with an additional $200.00 each.  The largest
     single donation -  $650.00 -   came from the general population at
     MCRCF,  many  of  whom are members of the Lifer's  Club,  and  had
     already  contributed through their initial donation from the  dues
     fund.

     > > > FIREWOOD PROJECT
     Right before Christmas,  1989,  the Lifer's Club participated in a
     firewood  project,  coordinated  by the Volunteer program here  at
     MCRCF.  This  project was originated to supply firewood for  needy
     families  in  the Morgan County area during the cold weather  that
     always  comes with the holiday season.  Sometimes the worry  about
     where  their next rick of firewood is coming from can put a damper
     on  whatever enjoyment a family might have at Christmas-time.  The
     Lifer's  Club membership voted to commit itself to supply 25 ricks
     of  firewood for these needy families,  and immediately started  a
     fund  drive here at MCRCF.  The fund drive was so successful  that
     our  original 25 rick commitment was increased to 30 ricks.   With
     funds  collected from the general population by the Lifer's  Club,
     30   ricks  of  firewood  was  purchased  and  stored  for   later
     distribution to needy families.

     > > > 1989 SPECIAL OLYMPICS
     The  Michael  Dunn  Center  is a local school  for  students  with
     special  needs.  The Lifer's Club ,  and the general population at
     MCRCF, seems to have a special regard for needy children,  so when
     we  were contacted about sponsoring some of these children in  the
     Special  Olympics  that  is  held  locally  each  year,  we  voted
     unanimously  to get on with it,  and see what we could do to help.
     As  a  result  of  our fund drive,  we were  able  to  sponsor  21
     children's  participation  in the 1989 Special Olympics.  We  also
     furnished Lifer's T-shirts and hats for them to wear,  and we were
     proud  to be able to help some of these children in their  efforts

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 33
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

     to  overcome  the particular obstacles that life has put in  their
     way.

     > > > AMY GAMBLE PROJECT
     Amy  Gamble is a teen-age girl who lives in the Morgan County area
     with her parents, Gerald and Wilma, and her younger sister, Janet.
     When we first heard about her problem,  she was a 18 year old high
     school senior,  an honor student,  and had recently been diagnosed
     as having 'aplastic anemia'.  Her condition requires regular blood
     transfusions,   frequent   trips  to  Nashville,   Tennessee   for
     treatment,  and  has caused her to be home-bound.  Amy managed  to
     continue  her high school work,  and plans to graduate this year -
     with  honors  -  in spite of her not being able to  attend  school
     regularly  because of her condition.  She eventually will have  to
     have  a  bone-marrow  transplant,  but  that  must  wait  until  a
     compatible donor can be found. The Lifer's Club made Amy a special
     project,  and  started a fund drive to collect money to offset the
     tremendous  expenses  she and her family has incurred  -  or  will
     incur - because of her condition.
       We  were  able  to present Amy with a check  for  $1000.00,  all
     collected  from the general population and members of the  Lifer's
     Club  at MCRCF.  Additionally,  at our regular membership meeting,
     when  a vote was taken allowing us to conduct the fund drive,  the
     membership voted -  to a man-  to ask the Warden to look into what
     would  be involved in allowing MCRCF inmates to present themselves
     to  be tested for possible compatibility for potential bone marrow
     donation.  Very  few people understand the problems that life  can
     dish  out  like an inmate does,  and when we're given a chance  to
     help - we do it, it's as simple as that.

     > > > SHARON DAVIDSON WHEELCHAIR FUND
      The  Lifer's Club of MCRCF has become involved in a joint project
     with a local Masonic Lodge,  raising funds to provide a wheelchair
     for  Sharon Davidson,  a Morgan County area lady who has  multiple
     sclerosis. We are going to be able to present Sharon Davidson with
     a  check  for $400.00,  collected from the general population  and
     members  of the Lifer's Club at MCRCF.  We intend to challenge the
     Masonic Lodge that asked for our help to triple our donation - our
     challenge  will probably result in another challenge,  and the end
     result  will be that Sharon Davidson will get her  wheelchair.  We
     were  proud to be given the chance to join with a local  fraternal
     organization like the Masons, and do what little we could.

     > > > 1990 SPECIAL OLYMPICS
      The Lifer's Club's experience with the 1989 Special Olympics (and
     the Michael Dunn Center) was so fulfilling that we tried to expand
     it  this year.  Our plans were to sponsor the entire Michael  Dunn
     Center's participation in this year's Special Olympics.  We joined
     forces  with  an  outside  organization  (International  Isshinryu
     Karate Association)  to try to raise the extra funds that would be
     necessary.  Coordinating  our efforts with the Karate Association,
     and  with  the help of some of  our  'free-world'  volunteers,  we
     planned to sponsor a walk-a-thon in the Morgan County area. We had
     tremendous support in our efforts,  and things were looking good -
     unfortunately,  the weather didn't cooperate with us.  The walk-a-
     thon was rained out, and stayed rained out until past time for the
     Special  Olympics,  so  we've had to readjust our  plans.  We  are
     sending  the  Michael Dunn Center a check for the same  amount  as
     last year,  to offset the cost of this year's participation in the

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 34
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

     Special  Olympics.   We intend to hold the walk-a-thon at a  later
     date (with the karate school's help), and any funds generated from
     the  walk-a-thon  will  be used for another  Michael  Dunn  Center
     project.

     > > > NURSING HOME PROJECT
     The Lifer's Club has unanimously voted to 'adopt'  a local nursing
     home (Life-Care Center),  and furnish some things that the nursing
     home needs that we are able to furnish.  This project is presently
     being coordinated through one of our committees, and the necessary
     outside arrangements are being made. In addition to the items that
     we  can provide with funds generated from within the Lifer's Club,
     we intend to furnish flowers, flower pots, etc. - or anything else
     that  we  can  secure through an arts and crafts project  here  at
     MCRCF.   Initially,  plans  are  under  way for a  party  for  the
     residents  of the nursing home.  We have a lot of support in  this
     program,  and  we  are  looking froward to being able to  bring  a
     little  enjoyment  into  the lives of the people who live  at  the
     nursing home.

     > > > STRAIGHT TALK PROGRAM
     While  the Straight Talk Program is not a specific program of  the
     Lifer's Club, the idea,  looked upon with scepticism by some,  but
     pioneered  within the TDOC at MCRCF,  grew out of an idea that was
     created  by  the  Lifer's  Club,   in  early  1989.   Necessarily,
     participation  in the Straight Talk Program is not limited to  the
     Lifer's Club members,  but -  not coincidentally -  almost all the
     participants  are either members or officers of the Lifer's  Club.
     The  program really gained ground after the initial visit by  some
     Hiwassee College students and their instructor, Dean William Bell.
     This  program  could be compared to a similar program in  the  New
     Jersey  prison  system  (Scared Straight),  and coincides  with  a
     Tennessee   plan   that   is   just   being   implemented   (shock
     incarceration,   or  the  'Boot  Camp'   idea),   with  one  major
     difference.  The Straight Talk Program involves only straight talk
     - no scare tactics, no profanity, no bull -  employing the reality
     of   prison   life  and  the  factors  that  contributed  to   the
     incarceration of the participants to encourage young people not to
     get caught up in the same trap.
       So  far,  students  have  come  to  MCRCF  from  many  different
     institutions - ETSU, Sunbright, Blout County Boys Club, Alcoa High
     School - to participate in this project,  and we have been allowed
     to  carry our program outside the institution several  times.  Our
     efforts   have   reached  all  the  way  to  Washington,   and   a
     representative of the Justice Department, Mr. Morgan Doughton, has
     noticed  us  and wants to file one of our programs as a model  for
     use  in  implementing programs like ours  nationwide.  Of  course,
     recognition  and success are some of the more  obvious,  immediate
     rewards  -  but who knows what future effect our participation  in
     this  project will have on the lives of the many hundreds of young
     people who have listened to our 'straight talk'?
       As  mentioned  before,  even  though this undertaking is  not  a
     specific Lifer's Club project, the program is a special concern to
     most of us, since the idea originated in our club, and we are very
     interested  in  the success of the Straight Talk Program  and  the
     good we feel that it can do.

       Now,  having  said all that -   why are we,  the Lifer's Club of
     MCRCF, doing what we are doing?  On first impression, that seems a

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 35
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

     fairly  easy to answer.  Here's an organization made up of  people
     with long prison sentences, who want to do whatever they can do to
     shorten  them  and go home.  That's almost right -  but it goes  a
     little  deeper than that.   Indeed,  it might surprise you to know
     that  a  majority  of the Lifer's Club membership would  not  even
     substantially affected by the new laws.
       Most  correctional officers and professionals in the field  will
     tell you that a prison is like a small community.  We, as inmates,
     know  this  is  so.  A prison community has its own  set  of  laws
     (written and unwritten), its own set of values, and its own set of
     unique  problems  -  problems that are generally misunderstood  by
     everyone except the people who are the closest to them. Who better
     to  help with problems -  or to bring about some type of  positive
     change - than the people who are right in the middle of them?  We,
     as  the  Lifer's  Club  ARE  these  people,  and  we  can  usually
     recognize, and head off, problems before they become problems.
       We,  as members of the Lifer's Club,  like to think of ourselves
     as  'leaders'  in  our  'community'  efforts.   You  can  see  our
     counterparts  in  a  host  of  outside  organizations  -  Jaycees,
     Civitans, Lions, etc. - if we weren't in prison,  some of us might
     even be legislators, city-council members, judges - well, maybe we
     are  over-exaggerating our importance a little bit -  but,  at any
     rate,  we'd  be  the  ones who would be working to try  to  better
     things, wherever we are.
       We,  as  members  of  the Lifer's Club -  all people  with  long
     sentences  -  know that we are generally the ones most affected by
     whatever  happens -  inside or outside -  that concerns the prison
     system.  We also know that the stereotyped image of prisoners that
     people  on the outside have -  often perpetuated by the media  and
     people  to whom corrections is a big business -  is not correct in
     all  instances.   We have already seen many positive changes,  and
     recognize  that many more positive changes are possible.   We have
     long  recognized  the  need  for  more  education  and  vocational
     programs  within  the system to prepare inmates for  a  productive
     life on the outside.  Many times the lack of simple social skills,
     or  a marketable trade,  can cause the behavior that results in  a
     prison  sentence.   It's  no  accident  that  a  majority  of  the
     executive  committee  (and many of the core group of Lifer's  Club
     members)  either  work  for,  or are somehow connected  with,  the
     Treatment or the Education Department here at MCRCF.  The Straight
     Talk  Program  -  a controversial undertaking that  has  ballooned
     beyond everyone's expectations -  is almost exclusively made up of
     Lifer's Club members and officers.
       In  the  past,  many  changes have been made in  the  system  by
     inmates.   Anyone  who was at Turney Center (or any one of several
     other institutions in the middle 80's)  knows what kind of changes
     inmates can make -  violence and unrest always results in changes.
     However, this kind of change is not always for the best,  and we -
     as Lifer's Club members - recognize that the inmates most affected
     by the type of change brought about by violence and unrest are the
     inmates  who must live here the longest -  as opposed to the  ones
     who  can just cause trouble and go.  We have long known that there
     is  a distinct difference in inmates,  and we have just recently -
     right  here at MCRCF -  been given the opportunity,  by a forward-
     thinking  administration,  to  show what we can do.   If  you  can
     accept the premise that there can be 'community leaders"  within a
     prison  system,  and  if  you can indulge us a little  further  by
     accepting  that an organization such as the Lifer's Club is  where
     these  'community  leaders'  will show up,  then it's not hard  to

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 36
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

     understand  why  we  see it as our responsibility to  promote  the
     Lifer's Club of MCRCF, publicize it's accomplishments, and do what
     we can to improve the system that we must live in.
       In the past, we have recognized a potential problem in a kind of
     perceived  unfairness in the sentences and sentencing practices in
     the  state of Tennessee.  The new sentencing laws gave us a ray of
     hope,  but  we  believe it is extremely important for us  to  call
     attention to the potential unfairness -  real or perceived -  that
     would result from new inmates,  with shorter,'new law'  sentences,
     coming  into  a  system  full of inmates  with  longer  'old  law'
     sentences.
       We've got the Lifer's Club at MCRCF started,  we've got a handle
     on  what we're trying to accomplish through an organized group  of
     inmates  and  their outside helpers,  and we've got the  help  and
     support  of  a lot of good people.  We think the only  thing  that
     could possibly hold us back would be our lack of imagination.   We
     intend  to continue promoting a public awareness of the good  that
     can  be accomplished by prisoners,  to continue encouraging public
     recognition  of the inequality (and inequity)  of prison sentences
     in  the state of Tennessee,  and to keep on trying to do something
     about it - just a longer way of saying:
                  "Helping Others On Our Way To Freedom"

                                 Joe Lifer
                       Community Relations Committee
                          Lifer's Club of MCRCF "

































     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 37
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991



     ==================================================================
                         Ol' Glory n' Shiftin' Sands
     ==================================================================

                  President Bush's Address to the Nation
                Wednesday, January 16, 1991, 9:00 PM E.S.T.
              (Sent to VETLink #1 with no FileAttach Message)
                        VETLink #1 - Pittsfield, MA
                              (413) 443-6313

     "Just two hours ago, Allied Air forces began an attack on military
     targets  in Iraq and Kuwait.   These attacks continue as I  speak.
     Ground forces are not engaged.

     This conflict started August 2d, when the dictator of Iraq invaded
     a  small  and helpless neighbor.   Kuwait,  a member of  the  Arab
     league and a member of the United Nations, was crushed; its people
     brutalized.  Five months ago Saddam Hussein started this cruel war
     against Kuwait.  Tonight, the battle has been joined.

     This  military  action,   taken  in  accord  with  United  Nations
     resolutions,  and  with the consent of the United States Congress,
     follows  months  of  constant  and  virtually  endless  diplomatic
     activity on the part on the United Nations, the United States, and
     many, many other countries.  Arab leaders sought what became known
     as  an  Arab  solution only to conclude that  Saddam  Hussein  was
     unwilling  to  leave Kuwait.   Others traveled to Baghdad,  and  a
     variety of efforts to restore peace and justice.  Our Secretary of
     State, James Baker, held an historic meeting in Geneva, only to be
     totally rebuffed.  This past weekend, in a last ditch effort,  the
     Secretary  General of the United Nations went to the Middle  East,
     with  peace in his heart -  his second such mission.  And he  came
     back  from  Baghdad  with  no progress at all  in  getting  Saddam
     Hussein  to  withdraw from Kuwait.   Now,  the 28  countries  with
     forces in the Gulf area,  have exhausted all reasonable efforts to
     reach  a peaceful resolution,  have no choice but to drive  Saddam
     from Kuwait by force.  We will not fail.

     As  I  report to you,  air attacks are underway  against  military
     targets in Iraq.   We are determined to knock out Saddam Hussein's
     nuclear bomb potential;  we will also destroy his chemical weapons
     facilities;   much   of  Saddam's  artillery  and  tanks  will  be
     destroyed.   Our operations are designed to best protect the lives
     of  all  the coalition forces by targeting Saddam's vast  military
     arsenal.   Initial  reports from General Schwarzkopf are that  our
     operations  are proceeding according to plan.   Our objectives are
     clear:  Saddam Hussein's forces will leave Kuwait,  the legitimate
     government  of Kuwait will be restored to its rightful place,  and
     Kuwait will once again be free.   Iraq will eventually comply with
     all  relevant United Nations resolutions and then,  when peace  is
     restored,  it  is our hope,  that Iraq will live as a peaceful and
     cooperative  member of the family of nations,  thus enhancing  the
     security and stability of the Gulf.

     Some may ask, "Why act now,  why not wait?"   The answer is clear:
     The  world could wait no longer.   Sanctions,  though having  some
     effect,   showed   no  signs  of  accomplishing  their  objective.
     Sanctions  were  tried for well over five months,  and we and  our
     allies  concluded that sanctions alone would not force Saddam from

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 38
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

     Kuwait.

     While  the  world  waited,  Saddam Hussein  systematically  raped,
     pillaged,  and  plundered a tiny nation no threat to his own.   He
     subjected  the  people of Kuwait to unspeakable  atrocities.   And
     among  those maimed and murdered -  innocent children.   While the
     world waited, Saddam sought to add to the chemical weapons arsenal
     he  now  possesses -  an infinitely more dangerous weapon of  mass
     destruction - a nuclear weapon.  And while the world waited, while
     the  world  talked peace and withdraw,  Saddam Hussein dug in  and
     moved massive forces into Kuwait.   While the world waited,  while
     Saddam  stalled,  more  damage  was  being  done  to  the  fragile
     economies  of  the third world,  emerging democracies  of  Eastern
     Europe,  to  the entire world including to our own  economy.   The
     United States,  together with the United Nations,  exhausted every
     means  at  our  disposal to bring this crisis to a  peaceful  end.
     However, Saddam clearly felt, that by stalling and threatening and
     defying  the  United Nations,  he could weaken the forces  arrayed
     against  him.   While the world waited,  Saddam Hussein met  every
     overture of peace with open contempt.   While the world prayed for
     peace, Saddam prepared for war.

     I  had hoped,  that when the United States Congress,  in  historic
     debate,  took  its resolute action,  Saddam would realize he could
     not  prevail,  and  would  move out of Kuwait in accord  with  the
     United  Nation  resolutions.   He did not do  that.   Instead,  he
     remained intransigent, certain that time was on his side.   Saddam
     was  warned  over  and over again to comply with the will  of  the
     United  Nations  -  "Leave Kuwait or be driven out."   Saddam  has
     arrogantly rejected all warnings.  Instead he tried to make this a
     dispute  between Iraq and the United States of America.   Well  he
     failed.

     Tonight,  28 nations,  countries from five continents:  Europe and
     Asia,  Africa  and the Arab league,  have forces in the Gulf area,
     standing  shoulder  to  shoulder  against  Saddam  Hussein.  These
     countries   had   hoped  the  use  of  force  could  be   avoided.
     Regrettably, we now believe that only force will make him leave.

     Prior to ordering our forces into battle I instructed our military
     commanders  to take every necessary step to prevail as quickly  as
     possible.  And with the greatest degree of protection possible for
     American and Allied servicemen and women.   I've told the American
     people  before,  that  this will not be another  Vietnam.   And  I
     repeat  this here tonight,  our troops will have the best possible
     support in the entire world.   And they will not be asked to fight
     with  one  hand  tied behind their back.   I'm hopeful  that  this
     fighting will not go on for long, and that casualties will be held
     to an absolute minimum.

     This  is an historic moment.   We have,  in this past  year,  made
     great  progress  in ending the long era of conflict and cold  war.
     We  have before us the opportunity to forge for ourselves and  for
     future  generations a new world order.   A world where the rule of
     law,  not  the law of the jungle,  governs the conduct of nations.
     When we are successful,  and we will be,  we have a real chance at
     this new world order,  an order in which a credible United Nations
     can  use its peace-keeping role to fulfill the promise and  vision
     of the U.N.'s founders.

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 39
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991


     We  have  no argument with the people of Iraq.   Indeed,  for  the
     innocents  caught in this conflict,  I pray for their safety.  Our
     goal is not the conquest of Iraq.  It is the liberation of Kuwait.
     It  is  my  hope  that somehow the Iraqi  people  can,  even  now,
     convince  their  dictator that he must lay down  his  arms,  leave
     Kuwait,  and  let  Iraq itself rejoin the family of  peace  loving
     nations.  Thomas Paine wrote, many years ago, "These are the times
     that  try mens'  souls."   Those well known words are so very true
     today.   But  even  as planes of the multi national forces  attack
     Iraq,  I prefer to think of peace,  not war.   I'm convinced,  not
     only  that we will prevail,  but that out of the horror of combat,
     will come the recognition that no nation can stand against a world
     united.   No  nation  will  be permitted to brutally  assault  its
     neighbor.

     No  president  can  easily commit our sons and daughters  to  war.
     They  are  the nation's finest.   Ours is an all volunteer  force,
     magnificently  trained,  highly  motivated.   The troops know  why
     they're there.  And listen to what they say.   For they've said it
     better than any president or prime minister ever could.

     Listen to Hollywood Huddleston,  Marine Lance Corporal.   He says,
     "Let's free these people so we can go home and be free again." And
     he's  right.   The  terrible  crimes  and  tortures  committed  by
     Saddam's  henchmen  against the innocent people of Kuwait  are  an
     affront to mankind and a challenge to the freedom of all.   Listen
     to one of our great officers out there.  Marine Lieutenant General
     Walter Boomer.  He said, "There are things worth fighting for.   A
     world  in  which  brutality  and lawlessness  are  allowed  to  go
     unchecked isn't the kind of world we're going to want to live in."
     Listen to Master Sergeant J.P. Kendel of the 82nd Airborne. "We're
     here  for more than just the price of a gallon of gas.  What we're
     doing  is  going  to chart the future of the world  for  the  next
     hundred  years.   Its better to deal with this guy now,  then five
     years from now."  And finally,  we should all sit up and listen to
     Jackie Jones,  an Army lieutenant,  when she says,  "If we let him
     get  away  with this,  who knows what's going to be  next."   I've
     called  upon  Hollywood and Walter and J.P.  and Jackie,  and  all
     their courageous comrades in arms, to do what must be done.

     Tonight, America and the world are deeply grateful to them, and to
     their families.   And let me say to everyone listening or watching
     tonight,  when  the  troops we've sent in finish their  work,  I'm
     determined to bring them home as soon as possible. Tonight, as our
     forces fight, they and their families are in our prayers.  May God
     bless each and every one of them,  and the coalition forces at our
     side  in the Gulf,  and may he continue to bless our  nation,  the
     United States of America."










     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 40
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991
















       Operation Desert Shield

     NMNMNMNMNMNMNM\                        Operation Desert Storm
     MH *  *  *  HN/NMNMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNM\
     NH  *  *  * HM/MH   *  *  HMNMMNMN/MMMMMMMMMMMMM\
     MH *  *  *  HN/NH *  *  * H////////MMMMMMMMMMMMM/MMMMMMMMMMMMMMH
     NH  *  *  * HM/MH   *  *  H//////////////////////MMMMMMMMMMMMMMH
     MH *  *  *  HN/NH *  *  * HNMNMMNM/////////////////////////////H
     MH  *  *  * HM/MH*  *  *  HMNMNNMN/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H
     MH *  *  *  HN/NH *  *  * H////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNHH
     NH  *  *  * HM/MH   *  *  H//////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH
     MH *  *  *  HN/NH *  *  * HMNMMNMN/////////////////////////////H
     H//////////////MH   *  *  HNMNNMNM/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H
     H//////////////////////////////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH
     NNNNNNNNNNNNNN///////////////////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH
     NNNNNNNNNNNNNN/NMNMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNM/////////////////////////////H
     H//////////////MNMNMNMNMNMNMNMMNMN/NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H
     H//////////////////////////////////MNMNMNMMNMNMN/NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH
     MNMNMNMNMNMNMN///////////////////////////////////MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH
     NMNMNMNMNMNMNM\NMNMNMNMNMNMNMMNMNM/////////////////////////////H
                    \NMNMNMNMNMNMNNMNMN\NMNMNMNNMNMNM///////////////H
                                       \MNMNMNMMNMNMN\NMNMNNMNMNNMNMH
                 WELL DONE !!!                       \MNMNMMNMNMMNMNH

                WELCOME HOME!!!



















     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 41
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

                     For our GIs still in Saudi Arabia
                          Input by: Gale Barrows
                         GOTCHA! BBS - Custer, SD


     The folowing came over the Firearms echo and I thought it would be
     of interest here. Please excuse the jumbled transfer. Apparently
     the returns didn't come through properly.
            ___________________________________________________

     To any of you who still have friends or relatives in the Persian
     Gulf ... here are a few suggestions:

     IGNORE the post office when they discourage the sending of
     packages to APO/FPO addresses ... they ARE getting through, and in
     better time now than before ... Mail is a BIG morale factor.  Here
     are some suggestions you may not have thought of yet, but which
     will be GRATEFULLY received:

     Plastic mixing containers ...  a one-quart for milk and the
     pudding I will tell you about, and/or a two-quart for the koolaid
     ... the ones I have are Rubbermaid brand "Servin' Savers", and
     work very well.   Next, add these things to the package ...  Jello
     brand "Instant Pudding & Pie Filling"  5 1/4 oz size Milkman brand
     powdered milk ... one-quart envelopes   Sugar Free Koolaid (comes
     in boxes of four 2-quart envelopes)   Tabasco Sauce   Soy Sauce
     Small candies ...  such as the big bags of Snickers, etc you buy
     at Halloween. (non-chocolate is edible all day long, but the
     nights get cool enough to re-solidify the chocolate, too.).
     Tobasco is not as hard to find as it once was, in fact some of the
     new MREs come with small bottles ... but they are quickly used ...
     some mess sections have larger bottles, but it isn't always
     Tobasco brand, and that is clearly the best.  The soy is a nice
     diversion, and it takes both soy AND tobasco to make Tuna and
     Noodles edible.   If your friend is going to be there a long time,
     you may have time to order a special Tobasco bottle "holster" from
     the Tobasco Company that fits on his web gear!!  Highly sought
     after :)  Kool-Aid is not so hard to get anymore, either ... some
     of the field rations come with small packets now, too.  But that
     makes half a canteen cup ... the sugar-free packets are lighter,
     easier to carry, mix more readily ... and make two quarts at a
     time.   One package of powdered milk and one package of pudding
     mixed with 2 4 ounces of water (the plastic containers are
     graduated) and mixed by shaking them in the one-quart container
     will make enough pudding to fill five to six of the small sections
     of a GI mess kit ... just shake it for a couple of minutes and
     pour into the trays.  It will set quickly at night without
     refrigeration, and will thicken enough to eat even on a hot day.
     And you can make six happy GIs per package :)

     I guess most of what I said here applies to soldiers and marines
     more than to airmen or sailors ... who seem always to be better
     fed :)

                    -=- Ain't Peace Wonderful? -=- ---
                            -------------------

     With the winding down over there, moral is probably harder than
     ever to maintain, especialy for those folks who see others

     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 42
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

     shipping home and knowing THEY will be there for some time yet.
     Packages and letters are possibly even more important now.

                                -- Gale --























































     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 43
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

                         A Soldier's Wife Pledges
            From the White Sands Missile Range Paper, 29 Mar 91
                          Input by: Charlie Revie
                    Desert Dolphin BBS - Las Cruces, NM
                              (505) 523-2811

     (White Sands Editor's Note:  The following pledges were submitted
     to the Missile Ranger by Jo Ann Zidlickey whose husband,
     CW2 Robert F. Zidlicky Jr., served in Saudi Arabia with the 11th
     ADA from Fort Bliss.

                           I Am a Soldier's Wife
                              I Pledge Myself

     To defend my husband and all his uniform represents and
          through it show pride and love of my country;
     To protect my husband's children and shield them in time of
                want to the best of my ability;
     To be a good reflection of my husband in all circumstances
          To be honorable and honest in all my dealings;
     To serve well my military community, and through it my
                husband and country;
     To endure whatever hardships the Army may demand of my
                husband with home, love and faith;
     To observe the Officers' Wife's unwritten Code of Ethics
     and to conform my conduct to its lofty and honorable ideals.

                          I Am a Soldier's Child
                                 I Promise

     To respect my father and the uniform he wears proudly;
     To help my mother everyday and by helping her helps him
                   while he is away from us;
             To write my father on a timely basis and
                show him my love and concern;
               To be strong in my everyday life,
                    To be a good student;
           To never be ashamed that my father wears the
     uniform of the United States of America;
           To show pride, love, loyalty and faith in my
        father and the country he may give his life to defend.

     Gwen wanted to share these with the rest of us............

     Later, Charlie

            (Thanx Gwen & Charlie!... Joe and the NamVet Staff)












     NAM VET Newsletter                                         Page 44
^L     Volume  5, Number  6                                 June 10, 1991

                       MARS Messages to Saudi Arabia
                           Input by: Don Purvis
                         LSO Systems - Everett WA

     In case you forgot.....

     The Desert Storm Message Express is on line and providing message
     service to soldiers deployed in Operation Desert Storm.

     The Desert Storm Message Express is a bulletin board system (BBS)
     operated by the Fort Lewis HF/MARS Station (AAA0USA) and the Fort
     Lewis Amateur Radio Activity (W2USA), Fort Lewis, Washington, to
     provide family members a means of sending messages using the
     Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) to their loved ones
     deployed in Operation Desert Storm.

     The BBS is open 24 hours a day and can be reached from any state
     in the continental United States using an 800 number.  Messages
     entered will be downloaded once a day and refiled into the MARS
     network.  Depending on the current military situation in South
     West Asia, MARS can provide faster service than mail.

     We are sorry to say that at this time we can not service any
     NAVY/MARINE FPO MESSAGE'S.  Only APO ADDRESSES can be sent to
     Desert Storm at this time.  Please check with the BBS about FPO
     messages and to when they can be sent.

     Instructions concerning message format and length are available
     when users log onto the BBS.

     The board is only a message service, so please do not expect to
     find a files section for uploading and downloading the latest in
     shareware.

     Please note that this is a one way message system.  No reply will
     be sent back through the BBS from your loved one.  They may
     initiate a MARS message from their location and you will receive
     it by a phone call from a MARS affiliate member delivering their
     message.

     The Desert Storm Message Express is running on donated equipment
     and we thank the following for their support:

          The Major BBS by Galacticomm Inc.  Software Donated by
          ProStar Software, Inc.  (206)859-8653

          Hewlett Packard Computers
          Donated by R & D Industries (206)881-8490

          800 Number Donated by MCI Corp.

     The Desert Storm Message Express:    800-955-1249
                                          206-967-5750
                                          357-5750 (Military AUTOVON)