On July 29^th the local San Antonio USACCRA Chapter sponsored a memorial service at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.  This was the second annual service.  Last year our first one was very small.  We were thrilled to have such a great turn out this year.

Each year we select a representative Chaplain and Chaplain Assistant who is laid to rest at the Fort Sam Houston Cemetery.   We honor their memory on behalf of the thousands of Chaplains and Assistants who have served our nation from the American Revolution until today.  This year our attendance was bolstered by a great turn out of active duty Chaplains and Assistants.  Also, we were pleased to have family members of our two honorees, Chaplain Conrad Walker and SSG Manuel Barrera.  We also received excellent support from the National Cemetery administration and the MSD organization.

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“New and old members of the AZ Chapter of USACCRA had a good luncheon on Feb. 17, 2016, at the Thunder Canyon Brewery in Tucson.  We were happy to have the Days, Kohlenbranders, Weddles, Roy Ludlow, Steve Utter, and retired Chaplain Assistant Terry Cotton, who was able to attend for the first time.  Most were from the Tucson and Sierra Vista area, with others in the Phoenix and Sierra Vista area unable to attend because they had many guests who were escaping some colder area, or were recovering from illnesses. We mourned the loss of Chaplains Emil Dinkel and Marty Ford in our group.  We’re planning to have our next meeting in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Look forward to seeing many then!”

The East Alabama Chapter of USACCRA met on March 10 in Oxford, Alabama. Chaplain (CPT) Arthur Harrison, SFC Joshua Jones, and PFC Jasmine Carter who form the ministry team in a Chemical Battalion headquartered at Fort McClellan, provided a brief overview of the ministries in which they are involved throughout the companies scattered around the State. The group thoroughly enjoyed this update on the changes that have occurred since they retired, but noted at rock bottom, much of the style of ministry remains constant.

In the picture, Front Row: Hugh Kelso, Mickey Morton, and George Gray. Middle Row: Jim Holiday, Dorothy Kelso, Sandra Morton, PFC Jasmine Carter, Diane Douthit, and Jim Wilson. Back Row: Arthur Harrison, SPC Joshua Jones, Tom Smith, Carolyn Smith, Troy Douthit, and Lama Denkins.

The Chapter will meet next time on June 28. Chaplain Jim Wilson is charge of a brief program for that gathering.

Dear Friends in Chaplaincy – What a marvelous gathering for lunch on Tuesday, 23 Feb at the Fort Myer Officers’ Club.  We were welcomed by Senior Garrison Chaplain (LTC) Mark Jones who greeted all attending and offered our invocation prayer.  Also, his spouse Chaplain (LTC) Carron Jones who served in the office of the Army Deputy Chief of Chaplains joined us.

You’ll see many familiar faces in the circle, including a number of “first time” attendees.  Also, we had a number of regulars apart from us whom we remembered in prayer: Donna Weddle (in her winter home in Arizona), Jeff and Monika Young (supporting Jeff’s sister and family during surgery), David and Janice Hicks (while Dave recovers from a recent stroke), Wayne Lehrer (doing final preparation for the 25th anniversary gathering after Desert Storm of the VII Corps in Washington DC), Doug Lee (traveling)  and Benchuck and Carolyn Manning.

Plans are for a Spring luncheon gathering at Fort Belvoir on Tuesday, May 17th.  We usually gather between 1145 and noon and kick off promptly with an invocation and blessing for our meal.  Please note the location – Fort Belvoir Officers’ Club.

“New and old members of the AZ Chapter of USACCRA had a good luncheon on Feb. 17, 2016, at the Thunder Canyon Brewery in Tucson.  We were happy to have the Days, Kohlenbranders, Weddles, Roy Ludlow, Steve Utter, and retired Chaplain Assistant Terry Cotton, who was able to attend for the first time.  Most were from the Tucson and Sierra Vista area, with others in the Phoenix and Sierra Vista area unable to attend because they had many guests who were escaping some colder area, or were recovering from illnesses. We mourned the loss of Chaplains Emil Dinkel and Marty Ford in our group.  We’re planning to have our next meeting in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Look forward to seeing many then!”

Here is an activity that was done here in San Antonio by our Chapter in June.  This was the first annual ceremony honoring the deceased Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants resting at Fort Sam. who served under the US Army Chaplaincy Corps.  Those in charge of the ceremony  hope to generate more interest for next year’s ceremony.  They will select one Chaplain each year to honor with a decoration of flowers.  One exciting thing happened:  The small tape recorder failed as we were about to sing the National Anthem.  We sang it anyway. Then, Mr. Ed Manning, the Casualty Section Manager for Fort Sam said that he wanted to sing Taps.  It was a magnificent and amazing performance with a powerful voice that could be heard throughout the area near by the carrillon.  This was an emotional and unforgettable rendition of Taps.