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Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter (Killeen/Fort Hood, Texas)
May 2008 - The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter of the Association of the United States Army purchased 32 new DVD's and provided them to the 4th Infantry Division. These DVD's will be sent to Brooke Army Medical Center for use by the Wounded Warriors. Since the Wounded Warriors have time on their hands after they receive their medical treatment these DVD's will provide entertainment for these soldiers.
The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter of the Association of the United State Army purchased 32 new DVD's and delivered them to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. These DVD's will be sent to Brooke Army Medical Center for entertainment of the Wounded Warriors that are recovering there.
April 2008
- The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter received a donation from a model club in Fort Worth, Texas valued at $15,000.00. It included models and other supplies and materials to build models. The donation was delivered to the 4th ID rear detachment for shipment to Baghdad for use by the soldiers stationed there. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the club for their generosity.
- The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation of Houston, Texas has stepped forward - in a major way - to support the Family Readiness Groups of our “Steadfast and Loyal” 4th Infantry Division. On March 11th, Mr. Richard Loewenstern, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors returned to Fort Hood where, forty years ago, he had served as a young Soldier. This time, he was carrying a message - and a $33,000 donation from the Herzstein Charitable Foundation to be distributed to 4ID Family Readiness Groups.
- Mr. Yong Su Rhee, owner of Jason Industries, Inc., Arlington, Texas wanted to support Fort Hood Soldiers and their Families - and in a substantial way. So he donated over 600 new Golf Bags with Clubs and over 800 new Short Game Clinics, valued at more than $500,000, to our chapter. In making this huge donation, Mr. Rhee simply said he wanted to help build Fort Hood Soldier and military Family morale. Mr. Rhee recalled his days a young man during the Korean War and described how he, and most Koreans, will always remember that American Soldiers had sacrificed their lives to save his country from a cruel communist dictatorship. He went on to say how proud he was of American Soldiers serving today in Iraq and Afghanistan because he felt they had again saved millions from dictatorship, and introduced Democracy and Freedom to the people in those countries.
- Our chapter contributed $5,000 to Fort Hood’s MWR to assist in funding a Welcome Home ceremony and weekend of festivities for our most recently returned 1st Cavalry Division and III Corps Soldiers, and their Families. Festivities begin on Friday, 4/11/2008 and continue on Saturday, 4/12/2008. Local public school districts have agreed to release all classes on Friday afternoon. Twenty or more national acclaimed acts will perform on Friday, from noon to midnight. A carnival will operate on both days, at no cost to all in attendance.
February 2008 - On January 29, Immediate Past President Don Jones represented our chapter at Fort Hood's monthly Wounded Warrior recognition ceremony, and presented eight Purple Heart recipients with our chapter-provided distinctive 1st Cavalry Division Purple Heart Tee Shirt and caps.
On 1 February, chapter members traveled to Brooke Army Medical Center to visit with 4ID Wounded Warriors and their families - and to thank both the Soldiers and their Families for their service to and support of our nation at war. The chapter presented 4ID tee shirts and caps to all - in one case, to the father of a Wounded Warrior because the son was recovering from an IED explosion and not to be disturbed. Soldiers and family members had nothing but unbridled praise for the Soldiers’ units that were calling and checking in every day or two - and for support of all Soldier Families staying at BAMC. Personal photos were taken and have been emailed to the Soldiers and their families.
January 2008 - In the spring of 2007 the Central Texas Fort Hood Chapter submitted a grant request to the Northrup Grumman Corporation requesting funds to support our Wounded Warrior Program. The chapter received notification that Northrup Grumman Corporation would be providing a $5000.00 grant to support the program. We want to express our sincere thanks to Northrup Grumman Corporation for their generous support.
Don Jones Past President of the Central Texas Fort Hood Chapter received a donation of $5000.00 from Knowledgeable and Innovative Technical Solutions (KITs), a company headquartered in Round Rock, Texas. These funds will be used to support our Chapter's Wounded Warrior program. We want to express our sincere thanks to KITs for their generous donation.
In Nov 2007 Dollar Stores NY area manager contacted me and asked if I would coordinate Dollar Stores in NY donating toys to Fort Drum Families for Christmas. I said yes that the Northern NY - Fort Drum Chapter AUSA would be delighted to accept the contribution but would have to limit the NY stores to a 2 hours driving distance. 15 stores were selected and three pick ups of over $10,000 in toys were made by AUSA volunteers and MWR drivers with trucks: on 4 Dec for the 5 Dec Christmas lighting (about 250 attended) , 10 Dec for the 11 AUSA/MWR Christmas Party (650 attended) and 18 – 20 Dec for use by the Family Readiness Groups (150 Attended). The event worked so well that the stores volunteered to participate again next year.
December 2007 - With Army mental health care professionals in local short supply, our chapter successfully negotiated a $750,000 grant from the Dallas Foundation, thereby increasing the timeliness and availability of mental health care for AC/RC Soldiers and their families at Fort Hood and in North Central Texas.
The grant application was written last spring, by then Chapter President Don Jones and Board Member Matthew Wright. They followed up with a personal plea to the Foundation at its Dallas headquarters, identifying Soldier and Family member mental health needs and recommending Scott and White Hospital (with 22 locations in North Central Texas) as well positioned to provide this type care.
In ceremonies today, representatives of the Dallas Foundation presented Scott & White with a $750,000 check, which will immediately be put to work helping to fill the unmet mental health needs of returning service men and women and their families.
The presentation was well covered by the Temple Telegram and Killeen Daily Herald newspapers - and by the regional ABC, CBS and NBC affiliate television stations.
The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter donated $10,000.00 in support of Fort Hood’s new Oveta Culp Hobby Soldier and Family Readiness Center. The funds were used to purchase furniture for the Reception Area and the Teen Room. Two 42” Plasma televisions and two XBOX 360s along with games for kids to entertain themselves while their parents are in class learning valuable Family readiness information and in some cases, receive counseling. The Oveta Culp Hobby Soldier and Family Readiness Center is one of the most utilized facilities on Fort Hood.
Chapter President-Elect, Ron Taylor presented the 2007 Fort Hood NCO/Soldier of the Year, SSG David Corona,4th Infantry Division and SPC Jamiell Goforth, 4th Infantry Division with a new Dress Blue uniform at the Fort Hood NCO/Soldier of the Year Awards Ceremony. Also, through the Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter, AUSA each soldier was given the opportunity to select any new car on the lot with a value of up to $32,000.00 that they get to keep free for a year from AUTOMAX Imports in Killeen, Texas.
The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter, AUSA received a $22,000.00 Sail Boat which was donated from Terry and Elizabeth Tullier of San Saba, Texas. Both, Mr. & Mrs. Tullier wanted to support soldiers and they thought that would be a great way to support them. The Chapter in turn, donated the boat to the Fort Hood Directorate of Morale, Welfare & Recreation to be used free of charge by soldiers and their families at Belton Outdoor Recreation facility located on Belton Lake. Chapter President-Elect, Ron Taylor was the facilitator of this transaction.
December 2006 - The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter made a donation of $1200.00 to the Army Community Service organization to assist with the sponsorship of a Family Day for families of deployed soldiers. The event will be held at the Fort Hood Catering and Conference Center. A spaghetti dinner will be served to all family members and a special group of speakers will be brought in to speak to family members on how best to deal with the stress associated with family separations.
November 2006 - The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter has purchased baseball caps and tee-shirts for the wounded warriors of the 1st Cavalry Division. The value of these items is more than $3,500.00. In conversation with Colonel Larry Phelps, Rear Detachment Commander for the 1st Cavalry Division he advised us that the wounded soldiers wanted to go to their physical therapy session wearing a baseball cap and tee-shirt with the 1st Cavalry Division patch. This is due to the pride they have for their unit. The caps and tee-shirts will also have information that implies that these items were provided by the Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter, Association of the United States Army.
October 2006 - The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter voted to donate $2,500.00 to the Gold Star Family Support Center. The money will be used to support the families that have lost a family member during the Global War on Terrorism. Donations for furniture and appliances are being solicitated from various businesses. The majority of the staff will serve as volunteers
On October 24, our chapter presented the newly created Fort Hood Gold Star Family Support Center with $2,500 to help fund its set-up and initial operations. Fort Hood and Central Texas are making a deliberate effort to provide Gold Star families with continuing care, contact and concern behind that typically found in established DA Survivor Assistance Programs. Based on Fort Hood, the program is called Gold Star Family Support. Because this effort is currently without federal funding, our chapter will help underwrite set-up and operational expenses. This donation, with photo, was reported in the October 25th edition of the Killeen Daily Herald.
On October 24, our chapter presented the 4th Infantry Division Memorial Foundation with a $2,000 donation to help fund a memorial being constructed in honor of 4ID Soldiers lost in this most recent deployment to Iraq. The donation, with photo, was reported in the October 23rd edition of the Killeen Daily Herald
September 2006 - The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter donated $5000.00 to support the welcome home ceremony for the 4th Infantry Division and other units deployed from Fort Hood. Officials estimate that eighty thousand individuals will attend the event. The chapter will conduct a membership drive and provide new members with the chapter coupon book with an estimated value of $3,500.00. We want to express our sincere thanks to those men and women who have made the sacrifices to defend our freedom.
The Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter made a donation of $5000.00 to support the welcome home ceremony for the troops returning from Iraq. The event will occur on 2 February 2007. The planning committee estimates that 80,000 individuals will attend the event. The Chapter will conduct a membership drive to add members to its ranks.
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