Mo DENNY on his return from duty in Seattle sent the following note:
I
was sorry to learn of Frank Socky's terminal accident. Frank was a hard
working guy, always having his hand in real estate and other deals. I saw
him once in a while at the golf course with his grandson. Frank lived a
full life and was working right up to the end and in good health. I guess
some solace can be taken in knowing he did not suffer through some long
illnesses that others have endured.
Christiane
STEELE filed the following
report of her operation.
“Dear
friends, well the surgery is over and surprisingly it is a surgery I recommend
if you need it, I still have minor pains, but they are getting better pains. The
Staff at the hospital was fantastic, and of course my surgeon was the best. As
he stated , I had a lot of damage done to both of the knees, but now it is in
the past and I will be more careful how I treat my body. Thank you so very much
for the cards and well wishes and prayers. I am still out of commission
for a while but thank God feeling much better. Love to all, Christiane”
SGM
Merle DAYE sent
in the following status report:
Was at the Mayo Clinic
yesterday. The doc gave me a good report. CT scan showed no signs of
remaining cancer. Still have some trouble on occasions of chewing, may
always be a problem. He will be seeing me for about 5 years, every 3/6
months. You have a great web site
and I enjoy it so much seeing names of many of the fine officers I worked for
and with. (ED: My answer to this
report allowed that Merle would have no problem with being on a liquid diet.)
Bob YRJANSON has
agreed to join the RAFINO Team as The Data Master.
Bob FLEWELLING and Bob YRJANSON are developing a schedule for the
transfer of this important system.
JUL
2001
Marvin Edward JONES Sr.,
a retired Westinghouse personnel specialist who spent his life helping people on
the job and as a volunteer, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday 4 July
2001at North Arundel Hospital in Glen Burnie. He was 71. A former state school
board member and longtime community activist, Mr. Jones worked for 35 years in
human resources at Westinghouse Defense and Electronic Systems Center.
He served in the Army in 1955 as a Finance and Accounting Officer.
Afterward, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Baltimore, as a vocational
services secretary for the Baltimore Urban League and as a caseworker for the
city's Department of Social Services.
Jack ROGAN checked
the birthday list on the web on 10 July, his birthday, and noticed that his
e-mail address, JackRogan@WEBTV.NET, was not on the roster.
(ED: Jack, thanks for the address. We
will bring you up to date.)
SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN (SBP) GRANDFATHERING CLARIFICATION
According to TROA's Personal Affairs Update for July 9, 2001 For military personnel who were retirement eligible on or before October 1, 1985, and their future survivors, or military personnel retired on or before October 1, 1985, and their future survivors and current beneficiaries, "grandfathering" of their SBP annuity will apply if the survivor or beneficiaries would have been subject to the provisions of the Social Security offset. Under grandfathering, surviving (or current beneficiaries) will receive the annuity most financially favorable to them, either under the law as it was before March 1, 1986, or the new two-tier system. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service Center (DFAS) will compute this after the retiree's death.
The J. Claud WALLACE family
just returned home from a wonderful week in the Hawaiian Islands.
While in Honolulu I had a short visit with Frank CLAYTON.
Frank is doing well and his offer of Aloha hospitality is genuine.
A brief resume of Bob
YRJANSON is inside the back page. Bob
has accepted the special staff position of Data Master to succeed Bob
FLEWELLING. The two Bob’s are
in the process of transferring functions, files and responsibilities.
We have just been
advised that Bob FLEWELLING is having problems with his heart that
requires daily visits to the VA Hospital. His
computer also is down because of a virus. The
mailing of the photo book to all members and the RAFINO Report to those without
e-mail is delayed pending recovery of both Bob and his computer.
AUG 2001
Charlie WALKER
has advised us that Regimental week will be 13-17 May 02 with a schedule
as follows.
PRE-COMMAND COURSE, will report on 12 May 02
Financial Leaders Meeting will be 15-17 May 02
Regimental Ball 17 May 02
Regimental Golf Tournament 18 May 02.
He asks that we add this to our long range calendars.
Your Webmaster had a long visit via phone with Bob FLEWELLING this week.
Bob says that he is improving daily and expects to get the computer files
straightened out ere long. When he
does we will get the Photo Book and the RAFINO Report # 26 out.
If you read this, you have the RR # 26 on the web site.
Bob has spent some time in the hospital and he said they did some cutting
but I did not ask where they cut.
VGLI Premiums Drop
Effective July 9, premiums were lowered for some 70 percent of the policyholders
of Veterans Group Life Insurance. Reductions, based on a reevaluation of
actuarial tables, range from 5 to 24 percent for policyholders aged 30 to 59.
Policyholders should notice the changes in their first monthly bills or
allotments after the effective date. If they don’t see a reduction within 60
days, they should call 1-800-419-1473 or visit http://osgli.osgli@prudential.com.
New premiums by age group per $100,000 of coverage: 30-34, $11; 35-39, $14;
40-44, $22, 45-49, $32, 50-54, $52; 55-59, $84.
(W) Homer Cleveland
SAUNDERS, 98, who worked for the
Army & Navy Club in Washington for 73 years before retiring in 1998 as an
assistant manager, died Aug. 2 at Washington Adventist Hospital. He had
Alzheimer's disease.
Conal DARCY, son of
Dick and Geraldine, is off to
attend the University of Maryland University College at Schwabisch Gmund,
Germany. Bismark
Barracks was a Pershing Missile Headquarters. In 1992, the UMUC took over
the caserne and put a four year campus there.
Geraldine is with Conal to pay the tuition and board, and then she will
be off to Garmisch and the Lake Hotel at Chiemsee for a four day stay at each.
Carl ROTZ is
back on the sick list. He and his
doctor are discussing how best to get rid of a pesky kidney stone.
With the cruise coming up in a month, time is of the essence.
Seems that the doctor thinks that a blood vessel to the kidney may be
part of the problem and has ordered a MRI test.
Congratulations go to Miss
Erin DARCY as she goes back to Salisbury State University in Senior
status. Erin has been maintaining
this web site for us since July 2000. She
has not only done an outstanding job, but she is wonderful to work with.
Have a great year Erin. SEP 2001 The Photo Book
and the RAFINO Report # 26 are in the mail.
Bob FLEWELLING got out of the hospital Tuesday 4 September and
started getting the labels ready. Bob
called Dave Mikkelson and me on Wednesday morning and before the end of
Wednesday the labels were on the wire to the mailer.
Bob had worked all night to get them out. Bob FLEWELLING
had been in the hospital for about a week because his diabetes had run his blood
pressure up and caused vision problems. We
are fortunate to have a datamaster with such dedication.
Bob’s after action report is that he feels fine.
(ED: I told Bob to get some sleep.) Recent letter from Ken
MONROE - Ken MONROE now
has an E-mail address that is posted on the roster. “The citizens of
Schwaebisch Gmuend came out and put flowers and lit candles around our
flagpole in response to what happened. It was really touching.”
(ED: This message came from Conal Darcy, son of Dick and Geraldine, who
is a freshman at the U of MD in Germany. The
date was 11 September.) Virginia
and I were fortunate on 11 September. Our son, Colonel Roy WALLACE was
in his office on the 2nd floor C ring off the 4th corridor. The plane hit the
ground and skipped into the 1st & 2nd floors E ring at corridor 4. He
was in a meeting and while the plane did not penetrate the C ring the blast
knocked them out of their chairs and the ceiling fell in. He was early on
the scene to help evacuate the wounded until the smoke and dust got so bad that
they had to get out. Fortunately he was not injured. RETIRED PAY
PROCESSING GOING PRIVATE OCT 2001 This health update from Chick
CECCHINI: Hi, First of all, my
apologies to those of you who have been pressing me for more information on my
health status. Secondly, I'm happy to be able to tell you that all is
well. The dental surgeons -- the boss man in particular -- assure me that
there is no indication whatsoever of any tumor residue. Of course, as for
all who have had anything at all of this sort, there will be the usual routine
follow-up visits in the future. I still have frequent
appointments (now down from weekly, to now bi-weekly but for a happy
purpose, i.e., to give me some molars to chew with.) Back in mid-June two
permanent implants were screwed into my jaws on each side -- one in the
replacement bone in the lower left jaw and one in the old bone in
lower right. These have to "take solid root" before any pressure
from chewing can be risked -- estimated to be six months, or roughly
mid-December. In the meanwhile, since I was still limited to a "soft
diet" and could only dream of that New York strip steak, with pity on me
they decided to give what they referred to as "the Cadillac
treatment". So in late August they screwed in two more implants
-- but these are "transitional" implants which permit me to use a
temporary lower partial plate and to chew without putting any pressure on the
permanent implants -- something that is a real no-no. So, as things stand
now, I can actually eat an almost normal meal but must be careful to NOT chomp
too hard on my food. But, that is really no big deal as I can chew
just about anything within reason. So you can see that I'm really out of
the woods and just about normal. When those permanent implants are
certified as completely solid, I get a permanent lower partial plate and can sign
out of the dental surgery clinic but with an enthusiastic "Hooh
Ah!! for all of them. (I can assure you all that I have received the
finest imaginable care and consideration from Walter Reed that anyone could
possibly want.) I wish to express a
heartfelt thanks to those many of you RAFINO folks who have expressed your
concerns and good wishes to me and to Sjelja during this past year. It
reminds me of a great truth -- that choosing Army life and the FC in
particular was one of my best life decisions. Our very best wishes to
all of you, Chick Roger & Val
EDGINGTON have returned from their
extended visit in Europe. Edge says
that they had a great time. Just a note to let you
know that Frank EDE is doing really well.
He is a true miracle. His Doctor told him that he only
needed to come in once every other week now. He still gets really tired,
but has been working on several projects in the yard. Ms Isabel M. BRECHTEL,
widow of Maj David W., has asked to be dropped from the roll.
She said thanks for sending the RAFINO Report all those years since David
died in 1993. CSM L. Billy PANTOJA
has assumed command of the NCO Academy at the US Army Soldier Support Institute.
Truly a great day for all NCOs, the US Army and especially for the NCOs of the
Finance Corps. Finance Corps
leadership and achievements have been rewarded with one of our own assuming one
of the most prestigious NCO positions in the Army. Bill BAYLESS
has a new e-mail address that is now on the web roster.
He also said that he and Terry have retired to Florida to enjoy the
"good-life". They have
been busy settling in on their condo on the beach with occasional rounds of golf
and some good surf fishing. Looking
forward to the 2002 Reunion. See ya there. The following members
have moved since the last roster was printed, AND did not tell us. These new
addresses from the Post Office have been added to the web roster & the
database. Jerome BUTLER,
Walter CARROLL, Peggy DONNELLY, Marion GENTRY, Robert KOHLER, Genevieve LACKAS,
Jean MAUGHN, Arthur MANGANELLO, Kenneth MONROE, Arthur PERRY,
Dorothy SEMPLE, James SHROYER, Hugh B. TANT, Frank TRYON, Timothy WAGNER,
James WATKINS. John GASPER
has a new e-mail address. It is on
the web roster. Testimony of
PRESCRIPTION DRUG ordering. The TFL prescription
plan coverage began 1 APR 2001, but if you had coverage under a Medigap policy,
which I did, TFL would not activate. The
Medical coverage kicked in 1 OCT 2001 and I cancelled my Medigap policy
effective 30 SEP 2001. It was
necessary for me to get DEERS (1-888-363-5433 to tell Merc-Medco that I was
covered by TFL) and on 17 OCT 2001 I was able to order refills on line.
Four items that cost me $60 under my old plan were $24 under TFL.
I will let you know if I do not get the medicine now.
Ha! S/ J. Claud (Later: I did get the medicine.) The FY2001 National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) lowered the ANNUAL CATASTROPHIC CAP (the
maximum out-of-pocket expense for TRICARE covered medical bills in a fiscal
year) for retirees and their families. The
cap was reduced from $7,500 per family to $3,000. Beginning December 15, funds
will become available to reimburse beneficiaries whose out-of-pocket TRICARE
expenses (from 1 Oct. 2000 to 30 Sept. 2001) were between $3,000 and $7,500. NOV 2001 COLA Set at 2.6
Percent for Retirees: Tony RENFREY
has a new e-mail address on the web roster.
He started work with HEDRA on 29 Oct 2001. MAJ Sid JOHNS is
our newest member. He sent the
following message to Dick DARCY: “To bring you up to
date about my life since we last were together, from Cambodia, I was transferred
to the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis Washington. I was caught in
that first RA Officer riff just before they changed the Officer Procurement
Program. I was Discharged on February 1, 1979, with 15 years active duty.
Fortunately I received a reserve commission in the grade of major. When I
moved to Los Angles as the Supervising Accountant of the Southern California
Rapid Transit District, I found a position as the Assistant Comptroller of a
reserve support command which was the support command for the I Corps. I
retired from that organization, still as a major, in February 1988. TROA reports that MEDICARE
RATES TO RISE NEXT YEAR. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
has announced rate hikes for Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance
amounts effective January 1, 2002. Ms Jenny MOHER,
widow of Jeremiah MOHER, has an e-mail address that is posted on the web roster. Ms Alice JENNINGS,
widow of LTC Howard JENNINGS, has asked for her
name to be removed from the roster since she does not know any of “these
people”. Ms JENNINGS also said,
“My deceased husband (9 Jan 1998) so enjoyed the RAFINO Report and spoke often
of ‘the tie that binds’ the military family.
His 21 years of service gave him many wonderful memories. His
first wife Imogene died in Puerto Rico so he moved to California in 1985.
We met & married in 1988 so we had 9 years of happiness despite his
physical problems. I feel that the funds spent to send the RAFINO Report to me
could be better used elsewhere.” Ms Eleanor PICKETT,
widow of COL Ted PICKETT,
has asked to be removed from the roster. Al ABBOTT
is recovering nicely from an aortic abdominal aneurysm which was performed last
week. He sends his regards to all and he is planning to be at the 2002 Reunion. (Reported
by Bob RADOMSKI). Chick and Sjelja
CECCHINI will be off for Denmark 15 Nov and
will be back on 30 Nov. (Sjelja and I figure that Bin Laden wouldn't
dare touch Iceland air flights flown by Vikings!) Best regards, all
around. Chick INTENT FORM FOR
REUNION 2002: Ralph DIXON, Pete
PEDERSEN and their committee need for EVERY ONE of you to tell them what you
think you will do concerning Reunion 2002.
The link to the form is on the Home page and it will just take a few
minutes to fill it out and send it to Pete.
This form will help in planning and is not binding on you.
AT LEAST ANSWER YES OR NO to help the guys out. LTC Hon LEE has
a new e-mail that is on the web roster. LTC Paul O’DELL asks
to be dropped from the rolls. He
sent the following note: “I got into Finance in the Air Corps after returning
from the ETO as a P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot. Discharged
in 1947 and reenlisted as a MSGT, made Warrant Officer in 1948.
Was recalled to active duty in Jan 1951 and retired in 1973.My good
friend COL Stanley FULCHER got me to join RAFINO.
Stan has deceased and I only know one other member at this time.
I enjoy the newsletter and accounts of members, but feel no real contact.
I have a great deal of respect for your association and its members. MAJ William S.
WILLIAMS has a new address on the
web roster. He asked for
information on the Reunion 2002 in Indianapolis.
(ED: Hang on Bill, an intent
form is in this issue with the information.
In the meantime check the Reunion 2002 page of www.rafino.org.) COL Bill COGHILL has
changed his migration schedule to spend Oct – Mar in sunny California.
(ED: Smart move Bill.) The mail to the
Treasurer has carried comments concerning the Photo book from those who
could not attend Reunion 2000. The
purpose of sending the book to all members was to whet their desire to attend in
2002. Nancy CARLSON said
that they hoped that Gus will be well enough to attend the 2002 reunion in Indy.
(ED: Nancy & Gus we surely did miss you and also hope that you can
make it to the 2002 bash.) Maggie SHROYER has
asked that Jim’s name be dropped from the roll.
She stated that Jim no longer is interested in the organization.
(ED: Jim has been listed in the Silver Gray and Gold Room since his
stroke in April 2001.) Now wouldn’t it have
been nice if you had been told these things whenever they were happening.
Please, please get access to a computer somewhere.
The Editor
MSG (Ret) Robert CHARLES died of cancer 25 August 2001. He was recently assigned to the area with his wife SFC Betty Charles, DMPO NCOIC Ft
Belvoir.
According to the
TROA magazine MAJ. Mary C. CONRAD has died.
Both Chick CECCHINI and Bob RADOMSKI called the notice to
my attention. Jim MAULDIN also lives in Green Valley, Arizona but he was not able to
get the details and date of death. Your
Webmaster appreciates all the help that can be mustered by the members.
"---I have moved to Sun City Center to and Assisted Living Facility because
of my health problems. My wife must put a big cumbersome back brace on my
back each day and that is a hard task. I had back surgery in 1996 and
spent eleven months in bed at that time and have had lots of back pain since
that time but my wife, Ruth, and I take it one day at a time and try to make the
best of each day. ---- I will be unable to attend conventions and conferences
but I can at least keep up with activities in the Finance Corps. Please
extend my best wishes to all members!"
(ED: Ken, we will all keep you in our prayers.
I will do my best to keep the Finance Corps family news on the web for
you.)
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service has contracted ACS Government
Services of Rockville, Md., to provide pay services to 2.5 million DoD retirees
and annuitants. By January of next year, ACS will take over payroll processing
for new and existing accounts, customer service call center operations, and
mailroom and imaging operations. DFAS is working with its employee union and
with ACS to develop a transition plan for the 535 DFAS employees at the
Cleveland and Denver sites. Savings to the government are expected to be $20
million over the life of the contract. ACS is a Fortune 1000 company that
employs nearly 20,000 people in 21 countries.
SGM Dan SOUTH
has provided that some Finance people were on the casualty list from the attack
on the Pentagon 11Sept 2001. SGM(R)
Robert RUSSELL, Ms. Odessa MORRIS, and Ms. Angelene CARTER
of ASAFM used to work at the MDW Finance. LTG
Timothy MAUDE, the DCSPER, was an AG Officer and is remembered for being
stationed at Fort Ben.
Army LTC Jeremiah William MOHER, died Sept. 16 at age 81.
He retired in 1964 and then served 17 years as a civilian budget analyst
with the Department of Army. He had
heart disease and died after a stroke.
His final active-duty assignment was chief financial officer at White
Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. He
settled in the Washington area in 1964 and retired from the Computer Systems
Command at Fort Belvoir. He played a key role in negotiating one of the first
contracts providing military personnel worldwide with personal computers.
To paraphrase BG Michael D. Rochelle, CG, US Army Soldier Support Institute
"the selection for the NCO to lead the Academy was difficult, but I got
this one right. The thumb print on excellence will be on the forehead of
each NCO who attends the Academy placed there by CSM Pantoja".
Martha HATHAWAY
passed away on 7 October. She had been living with her daughter Linda and
son-in-law Steve Everhart. Dave
talked to Steve 17 October and expressed our sympathies and regrets. Any
friends out in the net who might be interested could make a remembrance to
Martha to the Alzheimer’s society. Dave left his name and phone number
in case he could be of any further assistance to the family.
Ms Miriam GLOCK has advised by letter that COL Robert W. GLOCK died from
cancer on 12 NOV 2000.
The next cost-of-living adjustment for military retirees, Social Security
beneficiaries, civil service annuitants and foreign service retirees will be 2.6
percent, effective 1 December. Persons who are recently retired will receive
lesser inflation adjustments, as the initial COLA is pro-rated to cover only the
months of the year during which the individual was actually retired. The new
COLA will show up in January 2002 checks.
Sad news. After a short illness, Mary TEASDALE passed away on Friday, 26
Oct 2001, age 72. She will be interned with Bob at the Santa Fe National
Cemetery.
Col. Frank
ASHENFELDER called Carl ROTZ
yesterday (29 OCT 01) and advised that his beloved wife, Thirza, died
after some 6 months illness. Both Frank and Thirza belong in the Finance
real old timers group - they are 91 years young. Thirza will be
missed by all of us who knew and loved her.
My wife of 30 1/2 years, JoAnne, died on 11 Dec 91, after triple bypass surgery.
I remarried on 21 Nov 92. My wife is a native of Guatemala who
insists that we speak only Spanish in our home. I had met her in southern
California about 12 years before we were married. Our kids had been good
friends in the Church, and when JoAnne felt she might not be leaving the
hospital alive, she told me she wanted me to marry Martha after she was gone.
I'm looking forward to being a member of the RAFINO.”
*Medicare Part A – inpatient (hospital), skilled nursing, hospice care
and some home health care -- the beneficiary deductible increases to $812, from
the current $792.
*Medicare Part B -- physician services, ambulatory care and other
services -- increases to $54 per month from the current $50 per month in 2001.
More information is available at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), via the Web at
Medicare’s site: http://www.medicare.gov or at the Department of Health and
Human Services site at: http://www.hhs.gov/
Eleanor,
wife of COL John WILSON died 20 SEP 00.
(Reported by John with his dues).