NAMC Newsletter Vol.9 Issue7
July 2008
National Commander
Doc to Doc,
The past two months have been very productive for the National Association of Medics and Corpsmen. We are well on our way to become recognized by the IRS as a tax exempt organization. Thanks for all the hard work from Doc Rick Calef, or this would not be possible. NAMC has also created a Educational Assistance Grant Fund and we have over $350. in the account. This fund will lend a helping hand to those families who have suffered the ultimate loss. Doc Sharp is heading up the fund and if you would like to participate you can send donations to our National Treasurer. We also have a new Webmaster, Doc Jerry Goodson who has set up a new interactive website located at: http://medic.hydrashok.com go there and log in. You will register on the right side of the page and set up your free account. Later on this year we will transition our old website into the new one and our URL will be as it always has been... http://medics-corpsmen.org . This newsletter and future newsletters will feature a " Medic or Corpsman of the Month" which will be a great way to get to know your fellow brother and sister Medics and Corpsmen. The first member to be featured this month is: Doc Kerry Pardue, medic, our Past National Commander.
Sincerely Submitted "Doc to Doc"
Doc Bill Hawkins, National Commander
NAMC Newsletter Vol. 9 Issue 7
National Chaplain
This past month we have lost two medics in the war on terror...floods in the mid-section of our country...loss of 4 young boy scouts during tornado. All of the families could use our prayers. I recently returned from a trip to DC and Chicago. While in DC , I visited some of the troops in the hospital who were recently wounded. Their attitudes, concerns for others, and determination to get back to their units amazes me. I am so proud of those serving today; they all give us much to be thankful for. Please remember them in your prayers as well. My trip to Chicago was to be with some of the medics I was with in my first unit in Vietnam. It was so great just to see them again and renew our friendships of 40 years.
Kerry Pardue
PNC
National Treasurer Report
There continues to be significant activity for NAMC of the past 6 months. Since February 2008 there have been 51 dues renewals and new memberships. The Educational Assistance Grant Fund continues to grow and to date has $351 in the account. The general fund continues to grow slowly with right at $5,000 in the general operating fund and $5000 in the savings.
NAMC continues to assist organizations with donations such as the Marine Corpsmen National Memorial Fund and a grant to Warriors and Family Support Center at Brooke Army Medical center. Both organizations received funds from NAMC this year.
The road to Tax Exempt status with the IRS continues and is nearing completion at this time.
The creation of the Educational Assistance Grant Fund is a paramount issue that will lend a helping hand to those families that have suffered the ultimate loss. Your active participation in this project will insure that those children of our brothers and sisters lost in combat get the head start that otherwise may be ignored. We encourage all members to give to this program. We can make a difference.
Send donations to:
The NAMC Educational Assistance Grant Fund
C/O National Treasurer
P.O. Box 594
Colville, Washington 99114
Operation Stand Down
IT’S that time again!
The Northwest NAMC stand down is coming your way!
Been two years folks and time has come around to do another Stand Down at the
CALEF RANCH.
Some of the crew
This year we will be finishing up the last part of the Medic’s Memorial. The fountain!
That of course means more concrete, water, beer, pots, pipes, rocks and electric current, more beer, good food, fun fishing, great comradeship, a memorial service, a wonderful BBQ, warm weather, more beer, and even a trip down the Columbia River with friends.
Horseshoes competition will be stiff this year. So tighten up your skills there.
The Shotgun match will be held but in a little different place. We constructed a Kennel in the old shoot range. So bring your shotgun if you want to shoot some clays this year.
Hounds are welcome
So set it aside for a fun time!
4 thru 7 September, 2008
Come one and come all.
As usual we will have limited space in the house so if ya want that reservation speak up soonest. Local hotels are available and very good prices. Campers and rigs are welcome and we can power ya all up in one fashion or the other. Outdoor camping spots abound in the local as well as at the ranch.
Doc Bill Hawkins, Doc Jim Peeler, Doc Kurt Johnson, Doc Rick Calef and Doc Jim Beyersdorf
Brothers all- The Cross construction crew from 2006
So let us know you all are coming
Contact: Rick and Jackie at
skowhegon@aol.com
SEE you here!
Corpsmen of the Month July 2008
Doc Joseph Brown
I am Joseph Brown and I'm much honored to be featured as "Corpsmen of the Month". I was born in Sayre, PA. My service life began in Feb. of 1949 in a program called USN Enlisted Volunteer. (USNEV) I was obligated to one year active duty followed with either 4 years in the active reserves or 6 years in the inactive reserves. I was released from active duty in 1950 and ordered into the active reserves following the Korean War breakout. August of '50 I was ordered to two years active duty.
At Great Lakes Training Station 1949
The Naval Hospitals I served at were: my first year at Portsmouth, Va. And when I was called back in I went to St. Albans, Long Island and later transferred to Beaufort, SC. From Beaufort I went to FMF Field Med School at Camp Lejeune.
I ended up with the 5th Marines in Korea and spent about 7 months with them. I moved to a field hospital to finish out 13 months in Korea.
At the Iwo Jima Memorial with the Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Conway 10 Nov 2007
I met my wife, Mary, shortly after service days and we were married 8-8-1953. We have four daughters, three granddaughters and two grandsons.
Since my retirement on 8-1-'91 I was involved in home and hospital visits to the sick and shut ins. About ten years ago I started going to our local county jail doing one on one visits with male and female inmates and doing the Rosary on Fridays with the women inmates. Due to some health problems I go only on Fridays now for the Rosary. I have done some pencil sketching in the past and hope to get back to it.
At the Wall Washington DC 1999
NAMC is honored to have Doc Joseph Brown as the Corpsmen of the month July 2008.
Doc Brown was the National Commander of NAMC 2002-2003
Medic of the Month Doc Kerry Pardue
Doc Kerry Pardue was born in Detroit, Michigan and has a twin sister. Doc Pardue moved at age 11 to Sauk Village, Illinois. After high school he attended college for a year then entered the military. He served from August 1967 to August 1970 in the US Army, as a combat medic and was assigned to three different units in Vietnam. After Vietnam, he was sent to Mannheim, Germany where I served my last 10 months in the army. Doc Pardue also served 9 years in the National Guard with the Arizona Military Academy where he was an instructor in the Basic, Advanced, and Senior NCO courses.
After the Army, Doc Pardue became a police detective in Newport News, Va. He did that for 8 1/2 years then worked as a letter carrier for the US Postal Service for 11 years. And then became a college recruiter for 9 years. I finally was approved for his VA claim for PTSD in 2002 and stopped working after the VA gave me a check for back pay back to 1975. Doc Pardue served as NAMC National Commander 2006-2008
Our Medic of the Month July 2008 Doc Kerry Pardue.
Notes of Wisdom
By amending our mistakes, we get wisdom.
By defending our faults, we betray an unsound mind.
As a tree with strong uninjured roots,
though cut down,
grows up again, so,
when deep craving is not rooted out,
suffering arises again and again
Attentiveness is the path to true life;
Indifference is the path to death.
The attentive do not die;
The indifferent are as if they are dead already.
Life is like a grindstone.
Whether it polishs you up
or grinds you down
depends on what you are made of.
“I am breathing in and liberating my mind.
I am breathing out and liberating my mind.” One practices like this.
