VFW PALS ON DUTY WHILE SOLDIER'S OVERSEAS.Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
When there was an electrical problem in Myrna Espinoza's kitchen, her husband's pals from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2805 in Canoga Park were there in less than half an hour to fix it. When the plumbing started to leak, they were there to fix that, too. And when the lawn needs mowing mow 1 n. 1. The place in a barn where hay, grain, or other feed is stored. 2. A stack of hay or other feed stored in a barn. and the fence mending Noun 1. fence mending - social action to improve poor relations (especially in politics); "they moved forward from a period of fence mending to substantive changes in the country" social action - a social policy of reform (especially socioeconomic reform) , well, they're there to take care of that, too. That's what you do for a buddy when he's overseas fighting a war -- on his second tour of duty in Iraq with the Army Reserve -- and his wife and 12-year-old daughter are home alone. ``We watch his back and look after his family,'' says Bob Moran, commander of VFW See Video for Windows. Post2805. That's what the guys are doing for Ernie Espinoza, a Canoga Park letter carrier and Desert Storm veteran who has enough to worry about in Iraq right now. He doesn't need to be worrying about whether his family's everyday needs back home are being taken care of while he's gone. ``If we can't do something for one of our own, why are we in business?'' post service officer Nick Guest says. It's a no-brainer, the guys say. They have Ernie Espinoza's back. ``It's such a comfort to know that if anything goes wrong here, I can call them, and they'll be here to help me,'' Myrna said. ``When Ernie left for Iraq, that's what he told me, and he was right. They've never let me down.'' When the old vets over at Building99 at Sepulveda VA -- the last hospital stop for many old World War II and Korean War veterans ≈The last U.S. Korean War veteran on active duty was Lt.Col Don Byers, US Army, who retired in 1992
When a good teacher deserves recognition, when local law enforcement officers and firefighters go over and beyond the call of duty and when school children show an appreciation for the history of this country, it's the members of VFW posts and American Legion American Legion, national association of male and female war veterans, founded (1919) in Paris. Membership is open to veterans of World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. halls handing them awards and checks. Do many of their members also enjoy a drink or two at the bar and try to one up each other with old war stories? ``Sure, we do that, too, but we do so much more,'' Guest says. That's why the VFW's National Cmdr. Gary Kurpius -- the No.1 guy in the 2.2million-member service organization with 8,600 posts nationwide -- stopped by Canoga Park Post2805 on Tuesday. The Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. vet wanted to say thank you in person and urge the post's 500-plus members to keep it up. The only way the organization is going to grow and bring in new members is to be relevant to their communities. ``We've got to put an end to to destroy. - Fuller. See also: End the misconception mis·con·cep·tion n. A mistaken thought, idea, or notion; a misunderstanding: had many misconceptions about the new tax program. that the VFW is just a cheap place for guys to drink,'' he says. ``That's not who we are. ``We're out there doing good work in the community and fighting for benefits for the families of servicemen, encouraging younger veterans to become members so they can share in the entitlements and grants we have available. ``What the members of this post are doing for Eddie's family in Canoga Park while he's fighting in Iraq, thousands of other VFW members are doing for the families of other veterans deployed overseas right now,'' Kurpius said. ``We just have to do a better job of letting people know who we really are.'' dennis.mccarthy(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3749 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Sgt. Ernesto Espinoza, center, is surrounded by officers of VFW Post 2805: Sr. Vice Cmdr. Roger Luehrs, from left, Cmdr. Bob Moran, Jr. Vice Cmdr. Ray Thompson, Military Assistance Chairman Walter Swanson and Quartermaster quartermaster Officer who oversees arrangements for the quartering and movement of troops. The office dates at least to the 15th century in Europe. The French minister of war under Louis XIV created a quartermaster general's department that dotted the countryside with Ben Tipps. |
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