Salvo - July 2021
COMMANDERS CORNER
As I sit down to write my final Commander’s Corner, I want to thank all of you for
your support and assistance. It has been a great team effort in growing our
membership by about 30%, conducting our yearly fundraising events, participating
in American Legion, Veterans Memorial Building, and community events, and
gaining financial stability thanks to Admiral Russell Gorman.
I turn over command of the post to Mark Heinemann who I am sure will build on
our progress and continue to make the post a great place to participate in many
veteran programs and events. I encourage all of you to give Mark your full
cooperation and support.
One thing you can all do, give us your suggestions for speakers, for post activities, or
how you might help with current activities.
Be sure to see our new website at www.americanlegionpost246.org. Check it out!!
Stay safe and wear your masks (a little bit longer)!!!
Eric, Commander
UPCOMING EVENTS
**** Every Saturday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Coffee at the Vets Hall IS BACK!!
June 19th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
June 19th to 25th California Boys State (virtual)
June 25th to 27th Dept of California Convention (virtual)
June 28th to July 3rd California Girls State (virtual)
July 4th, Sunday Independence Day Kiwanis Parade (CANCELLED)
July 7th, Wednesday Regular meeting w/speaker, 12:00 pm RAdm Mary O’Donnell, USCG
In-Person Installation of Officers, District Commander, Mike Clement
July 17th, Saturday NO Executive Committee meeting
August 4th, Wednesday NO Regular meeting
August 21st, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
September 1st, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm TBD
September 4th, Saturday Kiwanis “4th of July” Parade
September 6th, Monday Labor Day
September 10th to 13th, Friday-Monday Standdown on the Delta, CCC Fairgrounds, Antioch
September 18th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
October 3rd, Sunday Boys & Girls State Recognition Luncheon, 1:00 pm
October 16th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
October 31st, Sunday Halloween
SPEAKER FOR JULY
Our speaker for our July 7 regular meeting is Rear Admiral Mary O’Donnell, US
Coast Guard (Ret.). She was commissioned on April 13, 1973.
She graduated from Ohio State University where she received a Bachelor of Science
degree in English Education; from Michigan State University with a Master of Arts
in Comparative Literature, and from the University of Michigan's School of
Business, completing studies in Strategic Human Resources Planning. She also
attended Golden Gate University, completing the course work for a Master of
Public Administration and attended the Naval War College, the National Defense
University, and completed the CAPSTONE program for flag officers.
Her military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Korean Theater
Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 gold stars.
In September 2009, President Obama appointed Rear Admiral O’Donnell to the
Military Leadership Diversity Commission.
In her civilian capacity, Rear Admiral O'Donnell is the Director of Mission Support
Services at National Security Technologies, LLC, Las Vegas, Nevada. Her home is
in Danville, California, with her husband, Claes Elfving, and two daughters.
Mike Clement, 2021-2022 District 9 Commander will also speak and give us an
update on District 9 and his plans for the year.
MAJGEN DAN HELIX MEMORIAL SERVICE
Korean War Purple Heart Recipient - Former Mayor of Concord - Veterans
Advocate - VMB Advisory Board during redevelopment
A memorial service for MG Dan Helix will be held at the Concord Pavilion on June
26th at 11am. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, if you would like to send
memoriam, please send to United States Volunteers, 815 Fulton Shipyard Rd,
Antioch, CA 94509, or to your favorite charity
NOTE FROM NATHAN JOHNSON
Thank you for this very generous donation to the Martinez Veterans Service Office
on behalf of Veterans Voices. AL Post 246 will be recognized as a sponsor on the
upcoming Veterans Voices episodes (next episode is June 14th @ 7pm).
KEEP YOUR VA MEDICAL RECORDS UPDATED
If you received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of VA, please help keep your medical
records updated. How can you do that?
1. Bring your COVID-19 vaccination card to any
VA NorCal location and present it to one of our
clerks.
2. Take a picture of your COVID-19 vaccination card. Send a copy of the card to
your care team in a Secure Message on the My HealtheVet website.
3. Fax a copy of your COVID-19 vaccination card to 916-366-5376.
If you have questions, please call 1-800-382-8387. Thank you for your service!
STAND DOWN ON THE DELTA
Stand Down on the Delta 2021 "Volunteer Registration" is open. To Volunteer time
September 7-17, 2021, click the link or go
to www.deltaveteransgroup.org and click
the "The Big Red Button" to pick your
area and time you want to Volunteer.
This year's theme is "Unity" and the 20th
Anniversary of September 11, 2001, will be
recognized with a special ceremony.
Stand Down On The Delta 2021
Volunteers Needed!
September 10-13
Stand Down On The Delta is a 4 day, 3 night event
in which Veterans are provided medical and dental,
court and legal services, DMV, housing, addiction
and mental health counseling, employment, and a
myriad of other community services at the Contra
Costa County Fairgrounds located in Antioch, CA
Your support will help out veterans and their families
in the greatest need to make the toughest transition
of their lives.
We will be remembering 9/11 during this event at a
special 20th Anniversary ceremony on Saturday
CCC VETS SERVICE OFFICE EARNS NATIONAL ACHIEVMENT AWARD
Martinez VSO was recognized with an Achievement Award
from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The award
honors innovative, effective county programs that strengthen
services for residents, highlighting the virtual VSO for its
innovativeness in extending claims representation to
Veterans and their families. The virtual office is accessible from the County’s
Veterans Service Office website at contracosta.ca.gov/vets. In the virtual office,
Veterans can receive assistance from an accredited Veterans Service
Representative with filing for VA benefits.
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA CONVENTION
The Department convention will take place 25-27 June 2021 (Friday to Sunday)
virtually. Eric Ardell, Mark Heinemann, Randy Reid, Michelle Lee, Raoul
Miranda, and Bob Landy will be the Post 246 delegates.
UNIFORM ITEMS AVAILABLE
We have the following Legion uniform items available for purchase (no shipping or
taxes required):
Plain Short-Sleeved Uniform Shirt with patches (size Med) (2) - $20.00 ea
(These shirts are new but purchased from a local uniform shirt company years ago;
patches are sewed on)
Legion Metal Collar Devices (10) - $10.95 ea
Navy Blue Polo with white neck trim (Medium) - $29.95
Black Polo with white neck trim (Medium) - $29.95
Navy Blue Polo no trim (X-Large) - $29.95
Navy Blue Polo no trim (X-Large) - $29.95
Legion Cap (size 7) new - $49.95
Legion Cap (size 7) used – $19.95
Call Eric Ardell if you would like to make a purchase!!
FLAG & EMBLEM STORE
Alan Scharlach is our post “Supply Officer” and will order items for individual post
members. Go to https://emblem.legion.org/ to do your shopping; then email Alan
with the item number, quantity, color, and any other item details needed to
purchase the item you want.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of
taking care of them.”
POST OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Post Officers for 2021-2022:
Commander: Mark Heinemann
1st V. Cmdr: Michelle Lee
2nd V. Cmdr: Alan Scharlach
3rd V. Cmdr: Randy Reid
Adjutant: Bob Landy
Finance: Phil Connolly
Chaplain: Jon Heinson
Historian: Gerald Lindahl
Judge Advocate: Ron Lowe
Sgt-at-Arms: Floyd Cox
Service Officer: Leroy Vares
Junior Past Commander: Eric Ardell
Executive Committee:
Gary Soto
Dick Seavey
Ron Roe
Neil Giles
Appointed Officers & Committee Chairpersons
Asst Adjutant: vacant
Asst Finance: Raoul Miranda
Asst Sgt-at-Arms: Raoul Miranda
Supply Officer: Alan Scharlach
Boys State: Eric Ardell.
Girls State: Michelle Lee
Oratorical: Neil Giles
Pgm Dir: Michelle Lee
Scouting Rep: Alan Scharlach
VMB Ops Committee: Bob Landy
Museum Committee: Ron Farrell
Protocol Officer: Floyd Cox
Board of Trustees: Ron Lowe / Eric Ardell
East Bay Standdown Rep: Mark Heinemann
Veterans Outreach: Mark Heinemann
Post Website: www.americanlegionpost246.org Post Webmaster.....Rusty Orvik
Salvo Editor: TBD
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 133, Danville, CA 94526 Message Center: (925) 272-8480
Keep saving your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters for Helmut for Heroes at a future live meeting!!
A P-51 STORY (I could not help but share)
This 1967 true story is of an experience by a young 12-year-old lad in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is
about the vivid memory of a privately rebuilt P-51 from WWII and its famous owner/pilot.
In the morning sun, I could not believe my eyes. There, in our little airport, sat a majestic P-51. They said it had
flown in during the night from some U.S. Airport, on its way to an air show. The pilot had been tired, so he just
happened to choose Kingston for his stop over. It was to take to the air very soon. I marveled at the size of the
plane, dwarfing the Pipers and Canucks tied down by her. It was much larger than in the movies. She glistened in
the sun like a bulwark of security from days gone by.
The pilot arrived by cab, paid the driver, and then stepped into the pilot's lounge. He was an older man; his wavy
hair was gray and tossed. It looked like it might have been combed, say, around the turn of the century. His flight
jacket was checked, creased and worn - it smelled old and genuine. Old Glory was prominently sewn to its
shoulders. He projected a quiet air of proficiency and pride devoid of arrogance. He filed a quick flight plan to
Montreal ("Expo-67 Air Show") then walked across the tarmac.
After taking several minutes to perform his walk-around check, the tall, lanky man returned to the flight lounge to
ask if anyone would be available to stand by with fire extinguishers while he "flashed the old bird up, just to be
safe." Though only 12 at the time I was allowed to stand by with an extinguisher after brief instruction on its use --
"If you see a fire, point, then pull this lever!", he said. (I later became a firefighter, but that's another story.) The air
around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel fumes as the huge prop started to rotate. One
manifold, then another, and yet another barked -- I stepped back with the others. In moments the Packard -built
Merlin engine came to life with a thunderous roar. Blue flames knifed from her manifolds with an arrogant snarl. I
looked at the others' faces; there was no concern. I lowered the bell of my extinguisher. One of the guys signaled
to walk back to the lounge. We did.
Several minutes later we could hear the pilot doing his pre-flight run-up. He'd taxied to the end of runway 19, out
of sight. All went quiet for several seconds. We ran to the second story deck to see if we could catch a glimpse of
the P-51 as she started down the runway. We could not. There we stood, eyes fixed to a spot half way down 19.
Then a roar ripped across the field, much louder than before. Like a furious hell spawn set loose -- something
mighty this way was coming. "Listen to that thing!" said the controller.
In seconds the Mustang burst into our line of sight. It's tail was already off the runway and it was moving faster
than anything I'd ever seen by that point on 19. Two-thirds the way down 19 the Mustang was airborne with her
gear going up. The prop tips were supersonic. We clasped our ears as the Mustang climbed hellishly fast into the
circuit to be eaten up by the dog-day haze. We stood for a few moments, in stunned silence, trying to digest what
we'd just seen.
The radio controller rushed by me to the radio. "Kingston tower calling Mustang?" He looked back to us as he
waited for an acknowledgement. The radio crackled, "Go ahead, Kingston." "Roger, Mustang. Kingston tower
would like to advise the circuit is clear for a low-level pass." I stood in shock because the controller had just asked
the pilot to do an impromptu air show! The controller looked at us. "Well, What? I can't let that guy go without
asking. I couldn't forgive myself!" The radio crackled once again, "Kingston, do I have permission for a low-level
pass, east to west, across the field?" "Roger, Mustang, the circuit is clear for an east to west pass." "Roger,
Kingston, I'm coming out of 3,000 feet, stand by."
We rushed back onto the second-story deck, eyes fixed toward the eastern haze. The sound was subtle at first, a
high-pitched whine, a muffled screech, a distant scream. Moments later the P-51 burst through the haze. Her
airframe straining against positive G's and gravity. Her wing tips spilling contrails of condensed air, prop-tips again
supersonic. The burnished bird blasted across the eastern margin of the field shredding and tearing the air. At
about 500 mph and 150 yards from where we stood, she passed with the old American pilot saluting. I felt like
laughing; I felt like crying; she glistened; she screamed; the building shook; my heart pounded. Then the old pilot
pulled her up and rolled, and rolled, and rolled out of sight into the broken clouds and indelible into my memory.
I've never wanted to be an American more than on that day! It was a time when many nations in the world looked
to America as their big brother. A steady and even-handed beacon of security who navigated difficult political
water with grace and style; not unlike the old American pilot who'd just flown into my memory. He was proud, not
arrogant, humble, not a braggart, old and honest, projecting an aura of America at its best.
That America will return one day! I know it will! Until that time, I'll just send off this story. Call it a loving reciprocal
salute to a Country, and especially to that old American pilot: the late-JIMMY STEWART (1908-1997), Actor, real
WWII Hero (Commander of a US Army Air Force Bomber Wing stationed in England), and a USAF Reserves
Brigadier General, who wove a wonderfully fantastic memory for a young Canadian boy that's lasted a lifetime.
