Well, here we are in November 2021. Deer Season starts on the first Saturday of November, 6 November. But you need to be at your lease on Friday getting ready. In fact, you should have been getting ready for the past several months. Fixin’ up your stand, getting your feeders full, and siting in your rifle. We had an excellent Spring and lots of rain through the Summer. Hunting should be good this year. Go get you a deer or two, some turkeys, and even some quail. All good eating!

Remember that Daylight Savings ends on Sunday, 7 November. And then you need to remember all those Leathernecks, living and dead. The 10th of November is the 246th Birthday of the U S Marine Corps. A fine bunch of fighting men and women. And they have the best uniforms of all the services. Then next day is also a very important day for all of us. It is Veteran’s Day. The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month. A day that honors and remembers all of our Veterans. It is a proud day to be a Veteran. I’m not sure of the activities that we will be involved with due to Covid-19 and the local school policies, but we will probably be doing something on this day or weekend. We always get invited to various schools or places of business. This wonderful community ALWAYS supports our veterans! Be Proud!

On Thursday, 25 November we will have a Day of Thanks. Thanks for all the wonderful blessings that we as Americans enjoy. It all started in about 1621 when a group of Plymouth colonists and some local Wampanoag Indians gathered together and had a nice Harvest Feast together. In 1863, during the Civil War, President Lincoln proclaimed a National Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated in November. This was the start of a great and wonderful tradition that carries on to this day. Enjoy that skinny wild Turkey that you got at your deer lease. Or go to HEB and get a nice Butterball!

Anyway, we hope that you have a great November 2021. This is a great month for all Veterans. We hope that you and your family are safe and well. And we hope that the Dripping Springs Tigers continue their winning ways on the Football Field. They are 8-0 right now. Hope that they will be 9-0 when this is published. Go Tigers!!

What is going on this October? Well, we can start off with Wednesday, 13 October 2021. This is the 246th Birthday of the United States Navy which was created in 1775. We have a lot of Navy veterans in VFW Post 2933. Just to name a few: Shorty Barnett, our Post 2933 Former Commander, was a sailor aboard the USS Repurtis, DD-851. He sailed the waters off Vietnam and he cooked up some pretty good meals I understand. Trustee Lenny Jasinski, loaded bombs, rockets, and ammo onto Navy fighters on an aircraft carrier in the waters of the South China Sea. Member Tom Micek was a Navy SEABEE and made two tours to Vietnam. Fairly new members, Rick Hagy and Wade Raiborn were Old Salts, as were others in VFW Post 2933. Happy Birthday U.S. Navy. Keep those ships sailing!

We do have a couple of important events to remember. 9 October is the Start of “Operation Enduring Freedom” in Afghanistan, 2001. 20 years ago. We now know how this all ends, but to all those service members who served in Afghanistan, we are very proud of your service to our country. We are thankful for those brave men and women who gave their lives and sacrificed to help others.

On 18 October, we recognize the “Women in Military Service.” Today women make up about 16% of all enlisted members and 19% of the officer corps. We have several women veterans in our Post and we are proud of them and their service. We are very proud to have them as members of our VFW Post 2933.

October is usually a very nice month weather-wise. The temperatures are getting a little cooler and there are lots of events going on around the area. Get out with your families and visit some to the great local restaurants and businesses. Enjoy the Fall weather. Go to a local DS Football game if you can. The Tigers are off to a good start. And thank you very much for being a member of VFW Post 2933. We are almost there with the building of our new meeting hall. It is looking good! You will be proud of it, I promise. It has been a long wait, especially for those of us who started the post in 1994!!!

Still hot! Dove season starts on 1 September in the North and Central zones and 14 September in the South zone. Be sure and get your hunting license before you go (you really need to get it in August). We have some of the best dove hunting in the world but you have to be in the right spot. Sunflower fields, mesquite trees, and stock tanks. Take lots of shells and lots of water and stay hydrated.

Victory Over Japan- VJ-Day is on 2 September. This is the day that marks Japan’s surrender in 1945 and the ending of the war in the Pacific. 76 years ago there was a frenzy of celebration all over the US and all over the world. The ending of this conflict was a relief but it cost us over 407,000 deaths and untold wounded and injured. About 16 million U.S. Service men and women served and now they were coming home. The baby boom, of which many of us were conceived, was about to begin!

School has already started up again and football season has begun. We just beat Kerrville Tivy last Friday night in an away game. The first home game of the season is this Friday, 3 September. Early games can be pretty warm in the stadium. Go out and watch the Tigers play a few games. They have been doing pretty good lately.

PATRIOT DAY- 11 September. This is a day to remember those killed and injured on 11 September 2001. The flag is lowered at 8:46 AM, the time that the first airliner struck the North World Trade Center Building. Please take time to remember this event, and never forget.

U S AIR FORCE BIRTHDAY-18 September. The U S Air Force was officially formed, with the passage of the National Security Act of 1947, from the U.S. Army Air Forces. Congratulations to all our Air Force personnel for 74 years of exceptional service to our country. Aim High and Keep ’em Flying.

Finally, please say a prayer for those brave young men and women who were recently killed in action in Afghanistan. Eleven Marines, one Navy Corpsman, and one Army soldier gave their lives for our country, doing their duty, until the very end. May God have mercy on their souls…. Here’s a toast…

The Dog Days of Summer are here. August is usually one of the hottest months of the year in Central Texas and the lakes are probably getting low. The water companies have probably put us on a watering schedule, but you probably already know that don’t you? You struggle to do any kind of work outside. Your gardens and your outside plants and flowers are also struggling. The tomato plants are not producing anymore and it is actually time to think about planting Fall tomatoes. The good news is that September is getting close and the rains usually come about the time Dove Season starts on 1 September.

What is important from a Veteran’s point of view? 31 August, the End of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), 2010. We have several Iraqi Veterans in Post 2933. They will remember the start of this operation on 20 March 2003, following an Operation called Enduring Freedom that began in October 2001 in response to the 9-11 attack. The stated goal of OIF was the removal of Saddam Hussein’s regime and destroying their ability of use weapons of mass destruction or to make them available to terrorist organizations. The last combat brigade left Iraq in August 2010. Was this the end? No, it was just the start of another operation called Operation New Dawn, which started the next day on 1 September 2010. These things take time don’t they??

Some facts about the veterans that served in Iraq during this period of time: Many Iraqi Veterans have been exposed to environmental and chemical hazards carrying potential health risks. Many veterans have sustained wounds from toxic embedded fragments. Most soldiers were exposed to some gases from burning oil/gas wells which can impact their heath, and many soldiers were injured from the blast of IEDs. About 238 of our military forces were killed and more than 1000 were wounded, while the enemy suffered an estimated 7,600 to 45,000 killed.

Our forces performed in an outstanding manner and the victory was swift. We give thanks to all of our Iraqi Veterans for their outstanding performance in this conflict!

Now, get ready as school will start near the middle of this month and the summer period will be over! The traffic in town will be terrible again. Patriots Hall will be started. We have a parking lot and sidewalks and hopefully we will have a foundation. The actual building of our Meeting Hall will start to take place too. And Dripping Springs Tiger Football is starting up again. Go watch the Tigers play!

Normally by this time of the year, Spring has sprung and the heat of Summer has started. We hope that all of our members are well and that everyone has had the opportunity to get the vaccine if they choose to. We hope that all our members and their families are getting ready to enjoy the Summer months that are coming up. After a year of staying close to home and very little travel, maybe everyone can start to get out and enjoy some of the great things that this area has to offer. As I have stated before there are some really nice places to visit that are within a few hours drive from Dripping Springs.

There are a couple of important events that we, as Veterans, need to be aware of in the month of June. The first one that comes to mind is D-Day, 6 June. Seventy-seven years ago, as the early morning fog lifted, the German soldiers in France, that were on duty, looked out on a sight that had to cause great fear and anxiety. As far as the eye could see were ships that carried about 156,000 American, English, and Canadian soldiers. This would be the largest amphibious and airborne attack in the history of the world. Operation Overlord, code named Operation Neptune, landed these men on five different beaches along a 50 mile stretch of the French coast. Two divisions of airborne and glider borne soldiers landed behind the lines to destroy bridges and to slow the reinforcements. When it was all over, we had a foothold and this was the beginning of the end of the War in Europe. Less than one year later, in May 1945, the war in Europe was over. Never forget all the brave men and women who planned, prepared, and participated in this operation. Never forget those who gave their lives in this noble cause. Never forget those brave Army Rangers, led by Texas Aggie LTC James Earl Rudder, who climbed the cliffs at Pointe De Hoc during this battle. Later MG Rudder went on to become President of Texas A&M University.

The next important day is dear to my heart. This day to remember is 14 June. This is Flag Day and most importantly it is the Birthday of the United States Army. Over Hill Over Dale, We Will Hit the Dusty Trail…. On 14 June the Continental Congress authorized 10 Companies of Infantry to be formed. The other several branches that were formed a few days later were the Adjutants General Corps, the Corps of Engineers, the Finance Corps, the Quartermaster Corps, and finally the Field Artillery Corps. Three Special branches were formed a month later. These were the Medical Department, the Chaplains, and the Civil Affairs unit. Other branches were added between 1776 and 1987. From this humble start, our Army, the Senior Service, was created. Give thanks to all those brave warriors who have served and are still serving this great nation.

Now get out and enjoy the start of Summer 2021!

May is usually a wonderful month in Texas. The weather is pretty nice and the flowers are out. We usually get a little rain. Sometimes too much. Warmer weather has started but it is not too hot yet. All in all a pretty good time to get out and do some things with your family.

May is also a very important month for veterans. So let’s get started. 1 May is Loyalty Day each year. What, you say, is Loyalty Day? It is a day that is set aside for the reaffirmation of our loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom. It was first recognized in 1955. It was first called Americanization Day and was intended to replace May 1st (May Day) which was celebrated by Communist/Socialist Countries. It became a legal holiday in 1958.

May 8th is also a very important day for veterans since it is Victory in Europe (VE Day). 75 years ago the Allied Forces in Europe accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Germany, thus ending the war in that theater. This allowed us to shift more forces toward the Pacific Theater and to speed up the coming victory over Japan which occurred just three months later. After years of fighting in Europe this must have been a glorious day for all of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen. Never Forget those brave warriors who gave their lives for our country.

Not a military day, but one that is very important to all of us is Sunday, 9 May. This is Mother’s Day. How could you forget? In advance, order your mother or the mother of your children some beautiful flowers. Take your family out to a Brunch or Lunch or Dinner. Make this a special day. The person that you are honoring is a very Special Person.

Armed Forces Day 2021. Saturday, 15 May is a day that we celebrate Armed Forces Day. This special day is held annually on the third Saturday of May. It is a time to honor all those men and women who CURRENTLY serve in the armed services of the United States. First conceived by President Harry F. Truman, the holiday was established in 1949. The day culminates the end of Armed Forces Week, in which each branch is honored on a separate day of that week.

Memorial Day 2021. Monday, 31 May is a Federal Holiday that is observed on the last Monday in May and commemorates those brave men and women who died while in Military Service. There is a National Moment of Silence, for one minute, at 3:00 PM local time to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in service to our country. About 1,250,000 of our bravest and most honored citizens have died in all our wars and conflicts. Half of those losses were just in the Civil War. Please take time to visit a local cemetery and place a small American Flag on the grave of one of those warriors. Take your family with you when you go. Explain to your children or grand children WHY you are there.

Enjoy the wonderful month of May in Central Texas. Give thanks that you live here in a great community that supports our veterans. May your month be a great one!

Sunday, 4 April is Easter. A pretty important day for most of us. Go to Church with your family. Buy your wife and your daughters some Easter flowers. It is a renewal of life. The weather is usually pretty good. The grass is green and the wildflowers are out. Go drive through the Hill Country. The sights and the sites are wonderful. You are living in the heart of some of the most beautiful country that God has ever created. Go and see it. A two hour drive in almost any direction brings you to lakes, hills, rivers and streams, and beautiful wild flowers. Take a little time for your family. It truly is a renewal of life.

What’s important to me? 40 years ago, on 11 April, in a small non-denominational military chapel at Camp Mabry, Austin, TX, Sandy and I were married. She was a good woman then and she has remained a good loyal woman to this day. She remains as beautiful inside and out as she did forty years ago. I thank God for her everyday. We should all be so lucky!

If you have never been to Camp Mabry in Austin you should go and visit. There is a first class military museum (45,000 sq. feet) and it mainly covers the Texas Military Forces in all the actions that it has served. It takes several hours to see. It is worth the time. Kids will love it. Right across the street is the Chapel. Take a few minutes to visit. Although it is kind of plain on the outside, the military did do one thing correct. They actually put a steeple on top of the building. Really good thinking by those military architects! It is beautiful inside with some really great stained glass windows of all the military battles. Drive around the “loop” and see the aircraft that the Texas Air National Guard has flown, F-86, F-4, & F-16. See the helicopters and the artillery weapons. It is a beautiful old post dating back from the Cavalry Days.

Keep in mind that Camp Mabry, the HQ of the Texas National Guard, was started in 1892 and was three miles north of downtown. It was built out in the sticks and was a long ways from civilization back in those days.

Do you like churches? If you want to see four or five of the most beautiful churches in the world you need to go no further than about two hours to the area of Schulenburg on IH-10. There are several in the area but the ones that are easy to see are in small German and Czech towns of: Praha, High Hill, Dubina, and Ammannsville. These beautiful old churches are called “The Painted Churches of Texas.” Go to your computer and go on-line and look them up. Read about them and see pictures. Then go and visit. Take your family. You will not regret going to see these beautiful places of worship. Do not miss these works of art and devotion, built in the style of the “Old World”.

April is one of the best months in Texas. Do not waste it!
Out

One thing is that February 2021 is over! Thank God. What a bad week that was back a few weeks ago when the cold front blew in. I hope that everyone is back to normal. Electricity on and water running. That was the worst cold spell that I can ever remember. Looking forward to a little Global Warming.

Army Soldiers and Marines know what March is. Left, Right, Left. Airmen, Sailors, Coasties, and for sure, Space Force Guardians, are probably not real well acquainted with this type of movement. Easy now. I am just doing a little kidding!!

March brings us a few very important dates that we should remember. The very first date that every newborn Texas child should be taught is 2 March. Texas Independence Day is observed on 2 March (whatever the day of the week) and is the day that we declared our Independence from Mexico in 1836. It took a little bit of fighting to secure that independence but we got it. A famous battle occurred on 6 March at the Alamo, in San Antonio, where 180 brave men, under the Commander, LTC William B. Travis, had been holding off about 4000 Mexican soldiers for 13 days. The Alamo fell but the famous battle cry: “Remember the Alamo” carried the day a month later at San Jacinto, down by Houston. Fly your Texas flag high and proudly.

If you have never been to the Alamo Mission in downtown San Antonio, then you are missing something very important. You owe it to yourself and to your family to go and visit. Make a pledge to go and visit. This is a sacred place. Teach your kids what these brave men did. They gave EVERYTHING for you and for generations of Texans.

Two other March dates should be remembered by our veterans. One is 24 March and is the date of the Start of the Kosovo Campaign in 1999. The next is 31 March and is the End of Operation Restore Hope-Somalia in 1995. Thank our veterans who served in these operations.

Here is something that we all need to remember: Sunday, 14 March 2021 is Daylight Savings Day. Set your clocks (Spring forward) at 2:00 AM on Saturday night. And we sure don’t want to forget St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday, 17 March. Go to the Barbershop Bar in downtown DSTX or the One Shot Brewery and get you a Green Beer or two. Phil might be a little bit Irish and he might even buy you a beer.

Saturday, 20 March is the start of Spring 2021. The Bluebonnets will be out and now would be a great time to drive your family around the Hill Country looking at the beautiful flowers around Gillespie, Mason, Llano, Blanco, and Burnett Counties. The Texas Hill Country is usually at its best this time of the year. Enjoy the renewal of life.

If you have never been to the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, then you have missed out. This is an absolutely wonderful museum. It is a full day if you see everything, but it is worth it. It is a great place for veterans.

15 March is normally considered the final freeze day. I can only remember one day back in about 1987 where we had a freeze after 15 March. Go plant your garden. Give your spare veggies to needy veterans.

Thank you for your service to our country. Have a great Spring as you “March” along!!

Let’s start this out with Groundhog Day which is on Tuesday, 2 February. Will we have a long or short winter? Who cares. That is for Yankees anyway! Down here in Texas we celebrate the day as “Bee Cave Bob Day.” Bee Cave Bob is a local Armadillo that does the same sort of thing as that ol’ Groundhog does. This event is usually held over in the Bee Cave area. Watch for it!

REMINDER- Do not forget 14 February, whatever you do. Do not forget! Go and buy your honey some flowers, and candy, and get her/him a Valentine Day Card. This is very important so don’t forget.

There are a couple of important Presidential Birthdays to remember: Lincoln on 12 February and our first President and the first Commander-in-Chief of our Continental Army, GEN George Washington on 22 February. The US now just rolls all this up into one big President’s Day on Monday, 15 February. By the way, 2021 is NOT a leap year.

Wednesday, 17 February is ASH Wednesday and it starts the Season of Lent. Seven more weeks until Easter.
I am sure that something big happened in February militarily. Let me think. Now I remember. I was stationed at Ft. Polk, LA as a Basic Training Officer in February 1969. Some time early that month I got a set of orders that read: Assigned to Jungle Warfare School, Panama Canal Zone, enroute to RVN. By late February or early March 1969 I landed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam and began my career as an Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader in the 9th Infantry Division down in the Mekong Delta. The most nasty and most filthy place on the face of the earth!

We operated out of a small Fire Support Base (FSB) with some artillery and mortars. I had about 35 young riflemen, grenadiers, and machine gunners with me. We had infantrymen who were also radio operators, medics, and demo men. We took the fight to the enemy each and every day. We patrolled by foot, we airmobiled, we ambushed, and we attacked the enemy whenever and wherever we found him. Never underestimate the fighting ability of a young American soldier.

It was the adventure of a lifetime. 52 years later I give thanks to all those soldiers, sailors, and airmen who supported us in every way. A great combined arms team working together. We were young, and full of vim and vigor. Those were the days!

Have a great February and I hope that each and every one of our members have a safe, successful, and prosperous year in 2021. Spring is just around the corner. And do not forget to get those flowers!