Poignant Letter From Fellow Blogger Jim Sandefer

The Honorable Jon L. Kyl
United States Senate
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0304
Re: Pass Medicare/TRICARE Payment Fix Now
Senator Kyl:
I am writing to ask you to pass H.R. 4851 now to correct the 21% cut in Medicare/TRICARE payments to doctors that took effect on April 1, 2010.

Unless Congress acts now, millions of seniors and military beneficiaries risk having their doctors stop seeing them. I have already experienced the loss of two doctors that have served as the foundation of my medical care. This situation leaves me without a reliable provider with whom I’m comfortable and is aware of my medical condition involving a diagnosed rare disease.

For the longer term, Congress must find a way to end this intolerable monthly health care threat to tens of millions Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries. Your health care program has not been upended and remains intact, so you have the luxury of knowing your care is available whenever you need it from a provider that is familiar with your medical history. You insist that you represent us, your constituents, but your actions imply that your primary interest was ensuring your health care needs were protected. This is one of many reasons your constituents are frustrated, disappointed, and considering other candidates who might prove to be more pro-active in standing up for us with the same tenacity as you’ve taken care of yourselves. I vote, and will be listening and watching your actions closely between now and November. Take care of us in the same manner as you care for yourself and you get my vote. Otherwise, I’ll find an alternative candidate who will.

Pass H.R. 4851 now, and do everything in your power to ensure Congress provides a long-term fix for this outrageous situation upon return from recess. The clock it ticking and the November election isn’t that far away.

TRICARE AFFIRMATION ACT

*** NEWS RELEASE ***

Congress Passes TRICARE Affirmation Act

Springfield, Virginia (4/13/10) – The Senate unanimously passed legislation championed by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) to fix a flaw in the recently passed health care reform law.  The legislation, called the TRICARE Affirmation Act, passed the Senate without objection last night and follows successful House passage of the bill before the Easter recess.  The bill now heads to the President for signature into law.

The Webb legislation explicitly states that all TRICARE plans are now considered as minimal acceptable coverage under the new health care law. Defining TRICARE under law is important because it exempts its enrollees from the required purchase of additional coverage beyond what they already have.

Unfortunately, the new health care bill, called the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act, did not clarify that the earned coverage of TRICARE programs for servicemembers and military retirees under age 65 provided minimum acceptable coverage. NAUS continued to work toward “explicit protection” and is pleased to see that the NAUS-endorsed Webb bill clarifies these programs and makes sure that they are explicitly included in law under this definition.

“Senator Webb greatly appreciates the National Association for Uniformed Services’ active engagement and support of the troops and their families on this matter in recent weeks,” NAUS was told in the Senator’s announcement of the successful passage of this TRICARE protection measure.

NAUS President Bill Matz said, “The National Association for Uniformed Services congratulates Senator Webb on his success in the passage of legislation that explicitly states in law that TRICARE meets requirements under the new health care bill. The men and women who serve our country in uniform deserve complete assurance that their earned health care benefits are fully protected and this legislation will do just that.”

God Bless
Jose M. Garcia
National Executive Director
Catholic War Veterans,USA
josegarcia4@sbcglobal.net
Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.
In God We Trust

Women In The Military

Don’ t know about all of  you, but I learned by respect for women in the Armed Forces from my namesake, Margaret Brewer, the first woman General in the Marine Corps.  The balance of my respect came from Dominican Nuns!
> __
>
> This is a moving multimedia presentation that addresses what it really feels like to be a woman in the US military.
>
> Monday, April 12, at 7 pm
>
> COMING IN HOT
>
> Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Auditorium
> Northeast corner of Speedway and Mountain
> Free, and open to the public
> Free, easy parking East of building
>
> Actor Jeanmarie Simpson and sound artist Vicki Brown present a reading based on the book from Kore Press, “Powder: Writing by Women in the Ranks, from Vietnam to Iraq.” They give a thoughtful 360-degree view of war and what it means to be a female soldier.
>
> Sponsored by Voices of Opposition
> As part of the Monday Night Film/Lecture Series
> For information, call 622-6419 or <http://www.voicesofopposition.com/>
>

Memorial For Marines Killed In Osprey Accident

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2010
Marana, AZ
Marana Regional Airport To Host U.S. Marine Memorial Service
Mike Flynn, Sr. Vice Commandant of the Marana Nighthawk 72 Detachment #1344 Marine
Corps League, announced today that there will be a Memorial Service at the Marana Regional
Airport on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 10:00AM to honor the 19 U.S. Marines that were tragically
killed in an MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft accident at the Airport on April 8, 2000.
Included in the 10th Anniversary Memorial Service will be a granite bench dedication, procession
of Colors with the Marine Reserves Bulk Fuel Company Alpha Color Guard along with various
Veteran organizations’ Color Guards. The names of the 19 lost will be read aloud with a rifle
salute, taps and a dove release. Several current Marines from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine
Regiment, 1st Marine Division including Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jason Morris from Camp
Pendleton California will be participating in the event. The event is free and open to the public.
Additional Background Information
The MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft was conducting a training mission in support of Operational
Evaluation (OPEVAL) when it went down at the Marana Regional Airport in Marana, Arizona on
April 8, 2000. During the mission, the crew and Marines conducted Non-combatant Evacuation
Operations (NEO) exercises as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, with
Marines embarking and disembarking the aircraft. The mission was conducted at night utilizing
night vision goggles and forward looking infrared radar to enhance night operational capability.
This mishap aircraft was part of the Multiservice Operational Test Team, based at Patuxent
River, Maryland, but was temporarily attached to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics
Squadron-1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.
The 19 Marines Lost were as follows:
3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Sgt. Jose Alvarez, 28
Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21
Pfc. Alfred Corona, 23
Lance Cpl. Jason T. Duke, 28.
Lance Cpl. Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez, 27
Lance Cpl. Seth G. Jones, 18
2nd Lt. Clayton J. Kennedy, 24
Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Morin, 21
Cpl. Adam C. Neely, 22
Pfc. Kenneth O. Paddio, 23
Pfc. George P. Santos, 24
Lance Cpl. Keoki P. Santos, 24
Cpl. Can Soler, 21
Pvt. Adam L. Tatro, 19
Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38
Cpl. Eric J. Martinez, 21
Marine Helicopter Squadron 1
Maj. John A. Brow, 39
Maj. Brooks S. Gruber, 34
Cpl. Kelly S. Keith, 22
Marine Tilt-Rotor Training Squadron 204
Staff Sgt. William B. Nelson, 30
Additional information contact: Mike Flynn (520) 904-2460 MaranaMarines@hotmail.com

Veteran Demographics

The number of the “millennial,” group, ages 18-28; born in 1981 to the present, who have served in the Armed Forces is 2%.

Millennials (b 1981-present) 2%

Gen Xers (B. 1965-1980)  6%

Baby Boomers (b. 1946-1964)  13%

Silent Generation (b. 1928-1945) 24%

And which generation became the titans of  industry?  I say the ones had the most to do and the least to say.  Think those days will return?  Or has the Tower of Babel consumed us?

Funky But Potent Stuff: Emotional Freedom Technique

I have experienced this technique. While it seems like you are in a road show with Mandrake the Magician, the stuff works.  Something about all those meridians getting cleaned out that leaves you with a feeling of contentment that is palpable.

I was taught the technique by a retired Air Force  F-16 Pilot about two years ago at the Merritt Retreat Center in Payson, Arizona.  The remarkable aspect to this training session was that 9 hard core combat veterans all reported a positive result. You just can’t do it while your texting! And it  really works well after answering some fellow bloggers!

Energy Psychology’s Magical Mystery Tour of the U.S. Congress
David Feinstein, Ph.D.

After some 30 phone calls to members of Congress trying to set up meetings to plead the case
that Energy Psychology is superior to conventional treatments for soldiers and veterans suffering
with PTSD, Dawson Church and I had managed to arrange only one appointment, and a tentative
one at that since members of Congress may be called to the floor at any time for a vote. Worse,
when we arrived (Wednesday, March 24, 2010, three days after passage of the Health Care bill)
at Congressman Bob Filner’s door on the fourth floor of the House Office Building, we were told
by a prim female aide who was clearly accustomed to shooing away people wanting to see the
Congressman, the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, that we were not on
the appointment calendar, it was a busy day, and there was zero chance we could have even a
five-minute meeting, no matter how long we were willing to wait.
On to Plan B. Dawson knew Congresswomen Lynn Woolsey from his own district in Santa
Rosa, California. We went to her office on the second floor, hoping that even though we hadn’t
been successful in attempting to arrange a meeting in advance, we might be able to drop in based
on Dawson’s being in her district and having had previous collaborations with her. The
Congresswoman had been a strong supporter of “The Family Connection,” a nonprofit which had
consistently been voted by the community’s other organizations as the county’s “most admired
nonprofit.” Dawson had served as its president. But again staffers were to tell us: “busy day”
and “no chance” of even a brief meeting. Just the night before Dawson had been talking to me
about how, when your vision goes against the odds, part of the journey is to accept defeats and
disappointments with grace. And, indeed, today, despite being 0 for 2 on our scorecard of two, he
still seemed undaunted, ready to enthusiastically knock on every door of the Congressional
Offices if necessary. The Army Second Lieutenant we had brought with us, however, was
incredulous that he was spending his day off trying to help us fulfill such a bumbling mission.
“What is your plan of action, now?” he asked with icy courtesy after Dawson had hand-written
the Congresswomen a long note saying he had been by. As we stepped out the door, not sure
whether to turn left or right, we turned left and found ourselves in the path of the
Congresswoman returning to her office. She recognized and hugged Dawson warmly. Within
minutes the three of us were in the inner sanctums of her office with her and two male aides
taking notes.
Our presentation was brief but effective, centering around 29-year-old Second Lieutenant Olli
Toukolehto’s telling of his story. While serving as a guard and medic in Iraq, he was able to
psychologically mobilize himself to perform his duties like a model soldier. He had enlisted in
the Army and was deployed to the “Triangle of Death” in Baghdad, where he served in 2006 and
2007. He attended to mass casualties and encountered many bloodied, burned, and dead bodies.
The first casualty he witnessed was a member of his unit who had half his head blown off. It was
a time when fellow soldiers were being kidnapped and beheaded. At night, lying in his tent, in
an area being heavily bombed, he explained what goes on in the mind: “When the sound of a
whizzing rocket fills the air, if you hear an explosion three seconds later, you are alive. If you
don’t, you are dead.” Upon returning to the U.S., safety did not provide comfort. In a classroom
or other public setting, he would be calculating his response should there be an attack. Sirens
were now the screams of approaching rockets. An ebullient personality before the war, his inner
life had become dry and restricted. He no longer found himself laughing. He realized in
retrospect that he had become dissociated from his body. He gradually came to accept that his
undiagnosed PTSD was his new way of life. Having become an officer, and in training now to
become a physician, he knew that reporting a psychological difficulty of this magnitude could
have a devastating impact on his career.
About a year after returning from Iraq, a friend commented on how he had changed. She offered
to try a technique that she thought might be helpful. This led to a three-hour session of EFT (a
form of Energy Psychology) where he made a list of every trauma he experienced during the war.
Giving a 0-to-10 “subjective units of distress” rating to the first item on his list, he reported that
it was a 0. He felt no distress in his (dissociated) body. His friend had him tap on the memory
anyway. Within minutes he was sobbing, feeling the full impact of the memory, as high a 10 as
could be imagined. For three hours they went through and, by tapping on acupuncture points,
emotionally neutralized every memory on his list. He described how one of the first things he
noticed as the session progressed was a return of sensation in his hands. He said it was like he
was back in his body. By the end of that single session (followed by a brief follow-up session
the next day), he was cured of all his symptoms of PTSD. Now nearly two years later, although
his friend would be happy to provide follow-up at any point, he has been his joyful self again, no
longer hypervigilant, and in no need of further help.
Dawson followed with a brief description of the research he has conducted demonstrating that
the poignant story just told was not an isolated incident but rather an example of a reliable and
unusually effective treatment for PTSD. He described the Iraq Vets Stress Project, which has
offered free Energy Psychology treatment to hundreds of veterans through an international
network of more than 100 providers, with many VA therapists referring veterans for treatment
(www.StressProject.org). I put the meaning of that research into the context of conventional
clinical practices. Congressman Woolsey was obviously impressed, but she also made it clear
that she was not the one we needed to impress. She is on the House Labor and Employment
Committee. We needed to engage members of committees that could make an impact on the care
provided soldiers and veterans. She and her aides started naming the people they thought we
should visit. She could only sympathize with us regarding how difficult it is to get an
appointment, but she did offer to personally hand some of these Congressmen the research
documentation we had brought. By the end of the day she had, on the floor of the House,
initiated personal talks with three key committee leaders and handed them our research summary.
But these are dry documents, and we still had no means for personally visiting with them.
Following this fortuitous but inconclusive meeting, we found ourselves again in the proverbial
halls of Congress with no plan of action. But timing, coincidence, and who knows what else
were to shape the rest of our day. Last January, a staffer to Congressman Dan Lungren, a
Republican on the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees, had attended a small,
intimate conference in Costa Rica where my wife, Donna Eden, and I were presenters. I had
shown a video of veterans who were treated with PTSD and it had caught her attention and her
passion. Congressman Lungren cares very deeply about the plight of returning veterans and
Sandra wanted to bring our work to his attention. Two months later, however, their office had
been fully immersed in the pending health care legislation and many other projects, and there had
not been time to give much focus to the strange new treatment she had witnessed in Costa Rica.
As we were leaving Congresswoman Woolsey’s office, the office next door, by coincidence, was
Congressman Lungren’s office. I said, “Let me stop by and say ‘Hello’ to a friend who works
there.” We were told that Sandra was away. So off we went to the elevator, where we would
once more need to regroup. About 30 seconds later, Sandra walked out of the elevator, gave a
little shriek of surprise on seeing me, and hugged me enthusiastically. She explained that part of
the strength of her response is that she was just a few minutes earlier thinking about walking to
the Veterans’ Affairs Office to try to present to them what she had seen in Costa Rica. And
suddenly, there I was.
We were soon in her office giving the presentation that had just impressed Congresswomen
Woolsey. We would be giving variations of that presentation five more times that day. Sandra
said, “I want Congressman Lungren to hear this.” She checked with the person who keeps his
schedule, and there was no way to fit us in. She initiated an alternative plan, whisking us away
to a security clearance area and then to the Rayburn Room, a large, busy area which is just off
the House Congressional Chamber. Congress members can easily duck out of the Chamber
between votes for small impromptu meetings. The place bustles with a strange mix of
informality and importance.
Sandra’s office had gotten a message to Congressman Lungren to meet us there. We arrived via
the underground trolley for Congress members and staff that runs between the House Offices and
the Capitol Building. We waited a few minutes, and suddenly, there was the Congressman, who
had a way of being that, despite my strong antipathy toward his political party, soon had me
thinking, “I could see voting for this man!” He listened with obvious interest and empathy as the
lieutenant told his story. The Congressman responded by relating stories from his own family
that were highly pertinent to the discussion, but he then posed one of the key dilemmas for
Energy Psychology’s acceptance. “It sounds too simple! Too good to be true!” He let us know
he would like to believe there is a simple cure for PTSD, but he would need a lot more
convincing. The ensuing discussion was brief, frank, and to the point, starting with our
agreement that the field does indeed face this odd credibility problem that its methods are so fast
and effective that people don’t find the personal accounts or even the existing research to be
plausible. We also addressed a second very astute concern that the Congressman raised. Would
this treatment impair a soldier’s performance on the battlefield? We argued that it would not.
PTSD does not increase a soldier’s effectiveness. He conceded that point. At the end, we knew
he felt warmly toward Olli Toukolehto and he appeared to be expressing respect for me and
Dawson, but we had no idea if we had convinced him.
Back to Sandra’s office. We were all three impressed as we watched the wheels in her mind
strategizing ways of making the best use of our visit. She told us to go get some lunch while she
took the next steps (meanwhile, shuffling her appointments for the day so she could maximize
the amount of time she could give to us). When we returned, Sandra had good news. The
Congressman wanted to introduce us to some of his House colleagues. Back to the Rayburn
Room. One at a time, between votes on the House Floor, Congressman Lungren brought us to
meet, in succession, a member of the House Armed Services Committee (who had previously
served with the Marines in Iraq), a former chair and now the second ranking member of the
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, another member of that Committee, and a member of the
House Budget and Appropriations Committee. We told each one our story and fielded their
questions. Sandra is a seasoned Congressional staffer who later told us how improbable it was
that things could have come together for our visit as they did – it was almost as if the timing of
the House votes had been orchestrated to make all this possible.
Dawson Church, Ph.D., Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA), Second Lieutenant Olli Toukolehto,
David Feinstein, Ph.D
According to a recent article in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, only one in ten veterans who
enters treatment for PTSD in the V.A. actually completes it. Each of the Congressmen we met
was clearly interested in a better treatment approach to PTSD, and each seemed to leave with a
sense that evidence for one may be sitting there in the Rayburn Room. Congressman Lungren
brought us both Republican and Democratic colleagues, and Sandra explained that it is a
welcome opportunity to have an issue that cuts across party lines. Two of the Congressmen gave
Olli their personal e-mail address, asking for follow-up, and one of them said he would be calling
the EFT practitioner who had given Olli the session that had cured his PTSD almost two years
earlier.
We don’t know what will emerge from this Magical Mystery Tour of Congress by a couple of
Energy Psych therapists/researchers who don’t know poly sci from polymers, but Sandra assured
us that she now had what she needed to set some things into motion. The very next day we
received a call from Olli. He and Dawson had been stonewalled by bureaucratic obstacles for a
year in their efforts to institute a research study at Walter Reed, and their proposal had finally
been rejected. Olli relayed that the morning following our visit to Congress, the doors had been
opened wide for the study’s consideration. The commanding officer had appointed a colonel to
coordinate a study of Energy Psychology within Walter Reed and requested that the initial
paperwork be submitted by the following week. Dawson will be the Principal Investigator and
Olli the On-Site Investigator. Olli didn’t indicate exactly what caused the military wheels to
suddenly bounce into action so quickly after the year of intense effort that had gone nowhere, but
we could only imagine that in his charming way, he had successfully conveyed to his superiors
that when Congress asks if they are aware of this new tapping therapy, that they might want to be
sure they have the right answer.
Representatives Chet Edwards (D-TX), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Cliff Stearns, (R-FL), Second
Lieutenant Olli Toukolehto, David Feinstein, Ph.D.
Dawson Church, Ph.D., tapping on Lyndon Johnson’s stomach meridian.

DAV Ride For Freedom

This is a Motorcycle Run. I am trying to get the poster and picture to post. Check back later. Mike

Run on Sunday, April 11, 2010
Registration Starts 9:30 am at DAV 2 • Last Bike Out 11 am
þ Yes, I will participate in DAVA Cactus Unit 2 Ride for Freedom Run
April 11, 2010 • Registration starts 9:30 am – Last Bike Out 11 am
Pre-registration $10 per person • $15 after April 1, 2010
Send check or money order payable to: DAVA Cactus Unit 2 • ATTN: Aux Treasurer • 3455 S. Wilmot • Tucson, AZ 85730
Proceeds to benefit VA Hospital patients, Hospitality Room for the Troops at Tucson’s Airport, La Colina Nursing Facility
and various other programs sponsored by DAV Auxiliary Cactus Unit 2
Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________________________
City ____________________________________________ State ____________________ Zip ___________________
Email ___________________________________________ Phone __________________________________________
3455 S. Wilmot • Tucson, AZ 85730 • 520-747-3333 • carol_goodman63@hotmail.com • www.DAVA2.club.officelive.com
High Prize $200
Low Prize $100
50/50 Raffle • Door Prizes • Food • LIVE Music
Cactus Unit 2
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS AUXILIARY
PRE-REGISTER
$10 per person ($15 after April 1)
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!
$1 Breakfast
Burritos

Jesus Was A Veteran Too

On this Holy Saturday it seems appropriate to ask for the forgiveness of any readers or commenters that I may have ruffled since we started this TC.com enterprise.

One thing that is for certain about blogging, is that it does indeed bring forth a bit of discomposure and agitation of the persona.

I have been tagged recently as, “haughty” and full of myself. So be it, we all contain multitudes. Yet in this Easter Season, I want to turn to my real time Commanding Officer, Jesus of Nazareth, and one of his Sergeants, the apostle Paul.

Paul was once considered to be a bit haughty himself. He was a blue-blood member of a highly distinguished Jewish family.  He was educated by the esteemed rabbi Gamaliel. Paul had a reputation as a blameless defender of his faith and his nation. As a scholar, patriot and spiritual leader he was honored by his countrymen and feared by his enemies. You might say he was a bit full of  himself.

But Paul had a transforming experience while on a special op’s mission to hunt down the followers of Jesus. Early guerrilla warfare.  He had an encounter with the resurrected Jesus, pretty much curing him of his bloated self image. The creature comforts of life; prestige, power, and social status went out the window.

Paul learned rapidly that if he was going to brag it would be about his weakness. In the midst of all of his travails and persecutions Paul remained humble as the grace of God worked through him leading to a solid love for others.

“But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud.  My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

It is indeed in our weakness, we come to our full and centered strength. I must follow the same dictums I have given my children and grandchildren. I  use to tell them to ask themselves a brutal question, when faced with a detractor…… what if they are right? Tough medicine, but sure to forward ones  spiritual growth.

Later in life Paul also came to understand that the grace we have been given is only to enable us to care for each other. This mutual interdependence is likened to the parts of our body.  Mutual care as opposed to proud and haughty comparisons is what makes our bodies work.  “The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet I have no need of you.”  By spreading around the gifts and talents God makes us dependent on each other.  One might say that even makes for good “God Blogging,” Rene!

So, with Jesus and Paul at my side I submit myself  to the admonition, ” If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.”  2 Corinthians 11:30

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL THE TC.COM  BLOGGERS AND OUR READERS.

This Week in Veteran History

On March 29th, 1973 the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam.  It took the lives of over 58, 2oo men. Some say nearly 110,000 thousand committed suicide after the war.

It was Richard Nixon who pursued the policy of drawing down forces starting as far back as 1969, with the intent of building up the South Vietnamese forces. The program was called Vietnamization. It hit some snags early on, but the Vietamese forces were able to hold their own because of  our intense air and naval support.

In 1972 Nixon ordered B-52’s to bomb the North Vietnamese in hope of bringing them to a peace agreement. Wild eh? Bomb for peace! Sound familiar?  After 35,ooo tons of bombs were dropped on the North. a peace agreement was reached in January of 1973. However the fighting continued for another two years.

I cannot imagine serving in Vietnam in those last years. The morale must have been horrible.

Have we learned anything from the Vietnam War?

Annual Base Camp Gathering for Arizona Veterans

I attend this event nearly every year with my combat veterans pals. It is a real hoot to just loiter and tell our tales of warrior days and share medication stories! The property is owned by Joe Abodeley, a retired Army Officer with 1st Air Cavalry in Vietnam and a Colonel with the Army Guard. He is also the President of the Army Museum on McDowell in Phoenix.

Too bad it is on Easter weekend this year… Jesus has some stories to tell too!   Have a ton of fun men.

BASE CAMP 2010

Veterans and friends are cordially invited to attend Base Camp 2010 to be held
April 2, 3, 4 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) 2010. The purpose of Base Camp is to provide a
location for veterans and friends to assemble and share camaraderie. Live music and
entertainment is provided on Saturday night. ADMISSION IS FREE.

Base Camp is an area lined with bunker/fighting positions simulating a firebase or a
line unit’s perimeter defense camp. Military apparel and military vehicles are welcomed to
add to the ambiance. All veterans are encouraged to attend. There is a 90-foot high
flagpole with a large American flag and the Republic of South Viet Nam flag. There is also
a 35-foot high observation tower and other military type structures, water and two flush
toilets, a stage for live entertainment on Saturday, and a shooting range dug into the
ground at the base of a mountain as a backstop for target shooting. Camp out Friday and
Saturday nights. Bring your own food, beverages, drinking water, and firewood.

DIRECTIONS TO BASE CAMP

Traveling south on 1~10 from Phoenix, exit 1-10 at Wild Horse Pass. Take the first
left turn (Maricopa) to go past Firebird Lakes on your left. Proceed past the fire station on
your right to the T intersection with the stop sign. Turn right. Now you are on the road
(Highway 347) to Maricopa. Go through Maricopa, cross the Railroad tracks by the big
RR water tower and continue 2 miles to Ak Chin Casino. Highway 347 is also called John
Wayne Highway. Go 2 miles past the casino to Papago (you will see a large Santa Rosa
Cooling sign) where you turn right (west). Go west 4.5 miles on Papago until you curve left
(south) on to Warren. Go about .9 miles south on Warren until you reach Val Vista where
you turn right (west). Go west.5 miles on Val Vista through the wash and past the canal to
the first street on your left-Deer Trail. Turn left (south) onto Deer Trail, and go .5 miles
to where it Ts into Quail Run. Go right (west) on Quail Run for 1110 of a mile to the
entrance of 9014 North Wealth Road and Base Camp. The house phone number is 520-
868-6777 and my cell phone number is 602-509-8763.

SCHEDULE:

April 2-1200—Set up camp

April3–1000–US and RVN flag-raising, Betsey Bayless and other dignataries
1200–1800-0pen Time

1800– Entertainment

April 4– Break camp-go home

THERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE, FAIR RULES TO FOLLOW WHILE AT BASE CAMP.

  1. You WILL have fun.
  2. Shooting range use-SAFETY FIRST-and police all brass and ammo.
  3. NO ILLEGAL DRUGS.
  4. HOLD HANDLE DOWN until toilet flushes completely as a courtesy to others.

5. POLICE your areas of ALL TRASH and respect other people’s rights and property.

We’ll see you at Base Camp 2010. For further information, call Joe at 602-509-8762 or
602-253-2378 or 520-868-6777.