John D. Combo Post 120 Monthly Newsletter
Volume Two, Issue Seven
January 1, 2015
Commander: Mable Combo- Farris
December 2, 2015 One of our very own, Comrade Curtis Stith Highlighted in the
Progress Index. Curtis Stith was just 21 years old when he began his Army career.
The South Hampton native did his basic training at Fort Jackson, S. C. His advanced
individual training took place at Fort Sill, Okla., where he was trained in artillery. He
eventually became a member of the 300 ASG where he started off in maintenance as a
motor sergeant. Stith t hen spent 10 months in Vietnam.
“Being in Vietnam was my most memorable. I think a whole lot about it,” he said. After
Vietnam, Stith spent the rest of his career at Fort Lee, accept for two months which were
spent with a reserve unit in Baltimore, Maryland. In total, Stith spent 29 years in the
military, two of which were active and 27 were with a reserve unit. He retired as a master sergeant.
December 7, 2014 Pearl Harbor Day “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” The Japanese plan was simple:
Destroy the Pacific Fleet. That way, the Americans would not be able to fight back as Japan’s armed forces spread
across the South Pacific. On December 7, after months of planning and practice, the Japanese launched their attack.
At about 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor. Bombs and bullets rained onto the vessels
moored below. At 8:10, a 1,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona and landed
in her forward ammunition magazine. The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. Next,
torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost her
balance, rolled onto her side and slipped underwater. By the time the attack was over, every battleship in Pearl
Harbor–USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS
Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS Nevada–had sustained significant damage. (All but USS Arizona and USS
Utah were eventually salvaged and repaired.)
In all, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor crippled or destroyed 18 American ships and nearly 300 airplanes.
Dry docks and airfields were likewise destroyed. Most important, almost 2,500 men were killed and another
1,000 were wounded. But the Japanese had failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet. By the 1940s, battleships were no
longer the most important naval vessel: Aircraft carriers were, and as it happened, all of the Pacific Fleet’s
carriers were away from the base on December 7. (Some had returned to the mainland and others were
delivering planes to troops on Midway and Wake Islands.) Moreover, the Pearl Harbor assault had left the
base’s most vital onshore facilities–oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards and submarine docks–intact. As a
result, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the attack. On December 8, Congress
approved Roosevelt’s declaration of war. Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy declared war
against the United States. For the second time, Congress reciprocated. More than two years after the start of the
conflict, the United States had entered WWII.
Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor6_dec_2014.
December 13, 2014 Commander and Unit President’s
Ball- was a complete success. Great attendance, new
faces, fun, food, and dancing, all made for a terrific
ball this year. The affair was black and white. There
was nothing but smalls the whole night through.
Thank you for another great success. This year’s
Commander and Unit President’s Ball was awesome.
Thanks to all who contributed and supported in all
areas.
Top Row: Commander Mable C. Farris and Comrade Amelia Fisher (l). Comrades W. Baldwin and wife (c). Commander
Farris and Unit President Sylvia Geter cutting the cake (r). Second Row: Unit 120 Auxiliary (l), Second Vice Eugene Bynum
(c), and Comrades Amelia Fisher and Raymond Arnold dancing (r).
This Christmas season, Post 120 continues to be a service to those veterans, families, and youth within the
community, through its giving. The members of The American Legion Post 120 and Auxiliary Unit 120 have been
very busy playing Santa's Helpers. We collected so many toys this year for the children in the community and we
were so happy to drop them off at the PG Food Bank.... Along with our toy donation we also donated Holiday Hams
to help those in need during this time. We hope that we are able to assist with making every little boy and girl have a
big smile on their face on Christmas morning. Special thanks to Petersburg High School Class of 82 for your
donations. He Commander expressed on Facebook and email, “Thanks everyone for helping us to succeed in another
major undertaken. It is because of you that we not only meet, but continue to exceed our goals.” (Pictures on next
page).
Top Row: Auxiliary Chaplain Hattie Combo (l), Judge Advocate Thomas Colquitt (c), and Comrade Winfred Baldwin
(Committee Chairman for Toys for Tots (r)) unload toys. Bottom Row: Members of the community, donators, and some
members of Post 120 stand for the camera before getting back to work to provide toys and hams for the community.
Their mission, is to Remember, Honor, Teach, by carrying out in part by coordinating
wreath laying ceremonies on specified Saturdays in December at Arlington, as well as
veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states, ceremonies at sea, and 24 national
cemeteries on foreign soil.
Post 120 along with our Legion Riders donated $175.00 this year towards Wreaths across
America. Thank you all for helping to make our donation to a worthy cause possible. The
Donation Fund supported the money we donated. We were able to give 11 wreaths.
Upcoming January Dates
January 2015
1 Jan - New Years’ Day
2 Jan- Ice Cream @ VA Hospital @ 2pm
4 Jan - General Meeting
17 Jan- Nursing Home Bingo Visit with residents @ 3-4pm
19 Jan – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
21 Jan- Day on the Hill
24 Jan-District Oratorical @Post 49 Smithfield
Did you Know…
Category: General Flag
Should I fly my flag today?
Section 6d of the Flag Code states, The flag should be
displayed on all days, especially on:
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New Year's Day, Jan. 1
Inauguration Day, January
20th.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, 3rd Monday in
January.
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12th.
Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February.
Easter Sunday (variable)
Mother's Day, 2nd Sunday in May.
Armed Forces Day, 3rd Saturday in May.
Memorial Day, last Monday in May, (half-staff until
noon).
Flag Day, June 14th.
Father's Day, 3rd Sunday in June.
Independence Day, July 4th.
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July
27th.
Labor Day, 1st Monday in September.
Constitution Day, September 17th.
Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October.
Navy Day, October. 27th.
Veterans Day, November 11th.
Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November.
Christmas Day, December 25th and such other days
as may be proclaimed by the President of the United
States.
The birthdays of States (date of admission) and on
State holidays.
Half-Staff the Flag on these Days:
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Happy Birthday to You!
*Happy Birthday to all January born Comrades.
**Keep all in prayer on the sick and shut-in list, check up on one another.
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May 15 — Peace Officers Memorial Day:
half-staff from sunrise to sunset.
Last Monday in May — Memorial Day: the
flag should be displayed at half-staff until
noon.
September 11 — Patriot Day: half-staff
from sunrise to sunset.
First Sunday in October — Start of Fire
Prevention Week: half-staff from sunrise to
sunset.
December 7 — National Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day: half-staff from sunrise
to sunset.
Upon reliable information that a past or
present President, Vice-President, Chief
Justice, or Speaker of the House has died
Upon Presidential proclamation or
proclamation from your state's governor