Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 09/05/2005

Dear Sarge,
the Alumni and the current members of Chi Gamma Iota, the XGI Fraternity of Penn State Harrisburg are most appreciative of your successful efforts in spearheading our project to rename the Newville Post Office after Medal of Honor recipient United States Army Sgt. First Class Randall D. Shughart.

Rep. Bill Shuster sponsored HR 2062, which renames the Newville Post Office after this distinguished American hero. HR 2062 now has the support of all 19 members in the Pennsylvania House, plus Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Jr. from Maryland's 8th District. Pennsylvania Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum have are expected to support, the legislation when it is referred to the Senate

On October 3, 1993 while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Rangers in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sgt. First Class Randall D. Shughart distinguished himself by his actions above and beyond the call of duty and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. This year, as we approach the 12th anniversary of this American hero's sacrifice wouldn't it be appropriate to finalize the Randall Shughart Post Office in Newville, Pennsylvania.

Thank you for your efforts in making this renaming possible and thank you for your continued support of America's veterans.

Richard Smith
Silver Spring

Dear Smitty
I have recently contacted the House Government Reform Committee and their spokesman Robert White stated "We will try to move this bill to the House floor as quickly as possible once Congress returns from recess."

Shaft Notes

Congratulations to the Tampa, Florida, chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) for recently winning $10,000 in a national contest. The Chapter is putting the money right back into helping families of the active duty wounded or injured who are being treated at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Tampa. These service members sustained combat injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. The $10,000 "Newman's Own Award" was sponsored by the Paul Newman Foundation, the Military Times newspapers, and the Fisher House Foundation that has temporary lodging facilities for families near military and veterans' hospitals. The Tampa Chapter competed against more than 177 other organizations for the top prize and won for their work with combat injured veterans in the Tampa area.

I have heard mixed emotions being defined “as seeing your mother-in-law going off a cliff in your brand new Cadillac”. That is how I feel about a good friend Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Spider Nyland’s eminent departure from his beloved Corps. I am happy for his retirement; however I am less than happy that the Marine Corps will loose an outstanding leader.

General William L. "Spider" Nyland last assignment has been serving as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington D.C.

Gen. Nyland was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps under the NROTC program upon graduation from the University of New Mexico in 1968. In addition to attaining an M.S. degree from the University of Southern California, his formal military education includes Amphibious Warfare School (1975), Navy Fighter Weapons School (TopGun) (1977), College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College (1981), and Air War College (1988).

After being assigned to VMFA-531, General Nyland was ordered to Vietnam where he flew 122 combat missions. Other tours included Aviation Safety Officer and Congressional Liaison/Budget Officer, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, and Operations Officer, Marine , 1st Marine Amphibious Brigade. He commanded VMFA-232, the Marine Corps' oldest and most decorated fighter squadron, from July 1985 to July 1987.

General Nyland subsequently served as section chief for the Central Command section, European Command/Central Command Branch. He was promoted to Brigadier General on September 1, 1994 and was assigned as Assistant Wing Commander, 2nd MAW serving in that billet until December 1, 1995.

He served next on the Joint Staff, J-8, as the Deputy Director for Force Structure and Resources, completing that tour on June 30, 1997. He was advanced to Major General on July 2, 1997, and assumed duties as the Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He served next as the Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina from July 1998 to June 2000. He was advanced to Lieutenant General on 30 June 2000 and assumed duties as the Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. He next assumed duties as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation on 3 August 2001. He was advanced to General on 4 September 2002 and assumed his current duties on 10 September 2002.

His personal decorations include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with eight Strike/Flight awards, and Joint Service Commendation Medal.

Hats off to Ralph de Toledano the 89 year old veteran who was recently sworn in as the new Commander of The National Press Club American Legion Post 20. Ralph succeeded the youthful (age 84)

Commander Emeritus, John P. Cosgrove

The Post was chartered in 1919 at the suggestion of Gen. John J. "Blackjack" Pershing and now has 92 members. Among many notable members were Theodore Roosevelt, Sarah McClendon (twice Post Commander), and Pierre Salinger. In 1921, French Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in World War I, visited the Post.

Commander de Toledano was sworn in by The American Legion National Commander Tom Cadmus at the National Press Club.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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