WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 26, 2011) — The remains of 10 Army Air Force members, missing in action since World War II, were finally laid to rest today in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. The airmen were carrying out a bombing mission over Berlin on April 29, 1944 in their B-24J Liberator aircraft when it crashed near the town of East Meitze, Germany. German documents captured after the war stated there were no survivors in the crash which occurred north of the city of Hanover, about halfway between Berlin and the North Sea. German forces buried the remains of three of the airmen in a cemetery near Hanover, Germany, shortly after the crash.
In 1946, the Army Graves Registration Service exhumed the remains of the three and identified one as 2nd Lt. Thomas Digman Jr. of Pittsburgh and another as Sgt. James T. Blong of Port Washington, Wis. The third set of remains could not be identified then, but all three were reburied in a U.S. military cemetery in Condroz, Belgium. In 2003, a German national located the site of the crash and recovered human remains, which were turned over to U.S. officials.
In 2005, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, or JPAC team excavated the crash site and gathered additional human remains, military equipment, and metal identification tags for four of the airmen. The team also recovered a class ring with the initials AWL — presumably belonging to 2nd Lt. Arthur W. Luce, one of the pilots, from Fort Bragg, Calif. One of the ID tags found was for the other pilot, 2nd Lt. Robert R. Bishop of Joliet, Ill.
In 2007, a JPAC team completed the site excavation and found additional evidence that helped to confirm the identity of the crew. Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used dental analysis and mitochondrial DNA — which matched that of some of the crewmembers’ families — in the identification of their remains.
Along with Bishop, Luce, Digman and Blong, the airmen buried in Arlington National Cemetery included: — Sgt. John P. Bonnassiolle of Oakland, Calif. — Sgt. Michael A. Chiodo of Cleveland — Sgt. John J. Harringer Jr. of South Bend, Ind. — 2nd Lt. Donald W. Hess of Sioux City, Iowa — Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Karaso, of Philadelphia — Staff Sgt. Ralph L. McDonald of East Point, Ga. They were buried as a group, in a single casket representing the entire crew, in Arlington National Cemetery, Va. Hess and Karaso will also be interred individually in Arlington National Cemetery.
At the end of the World War II, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans. Today, more than 73,000 remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.
The American Legion is sponsoring a College Fair to help shrink the costs of college for students and their families. This college fair is unique because it’s hosted by veterans. The men and women who have served our country by protecting our freedoms is now working to help the young men and women of our state attend college.
Click Here for the informative flyer
The American Legion presented over $5 Million in awards in 2009 around the country.
The American Legion invites you and your family to Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Oakland, Allegheny County on November 15, 2010 for scholarship opportunities.
These scholarship opportunities include:
- Regional and local presented by veterans organizations
- Government programs like ROTC (Army, Navy and Air Force), the 5 Military Academies, the GI Bill, USAR and the National Guard
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Contests including written, spoken and participated in (including Legion Baseball, Scouting, Boys and Girls State, Essay and Speech Contests)
There is money out there, let us help you find it.
We are leaders!
More information coming soon - check back!!
View a video of the 2009/2010 year in review.
The 2010 Department Convention held at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel was a great success. View the great pictures below.
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring and sponsorship of youth programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.
In contrast to other veterans organizations, the Legion offers a number of local programs and activities to strengthen its commitment to our nation’s grass roots and the people we serve. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs; it continues to educate youths on the importance of sportsmanship and develops the quality of our country’s citizenship. The Heroes to Hometowns program is the only nationwide reintegration assistance service for wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, millions of dollars in donations have been given to fellow veterans and their families in times of grief, and various scholarship opportunities ensure the future success of our youth.
The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvements in the legislation process. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to their community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands not behind politics, but the issues and people that institute progress by focusing on veterans rights and quality of life.
The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.
The Four Pillars of The American Legion Booklet (PDF)
Need a Lift? To educational opportunities, scholarships, grants, student loans, careers and employment.
The American Legion publishes a comprehensive roundup of educational opportunities – including state and federal education benefits for veterans – in a booklet titled “Need a Lift?” Nearly 30,000 copies are distributed to educational institutions each year. It contains up-to-date information on:
- The basics of higher-education funding
- A listing of federal education benefits and programs, including loans, grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, tax benefits and educational IRAs
- A listing of state education benefits and programs
- Scholarships, grants and loans administered or supported by The American Legion
- Military resources
- Private funding sources
- An index of books and e-newsletters on education benefits
- Basic information on four-year colleges around the United States
- Contact information
The American Legion is again competing for $250,000 for the Legacy Scholarship Fund in July. Additionally, we are entered for August on behalf of job fairs, in which we are quite active. Let’s make it a point to let our “address books” know that we need them to vote every day for the next two months in order to win $500,000 for American Legion Charities. Go to www.legion.org and click on the Pepsi Refresh icon.
Portion of proceeds will benefit Legion programs
INDIANAPOLIS (June 9, 2010) – A new documentary detailing the 91-year history of The American Legion has just been released and is currently available through the organization’s Web site and Flag & Emblem Sales division.
“History of The American Legion: A National Legacy” was produced by Blackhorse Productions, a California-based company that specializes in military documentaries. Narrated by actor Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers), the movie traces the World War I roots of The American Legion and follows its history from its founding through its support for the military during the Global War on Terrorism.
“The American Legion has been the leading voice for veterans and the military since 1919,” National Commander Clarence E. Hill said. “While many people know that The American Legion played a pivotal role in the creation of the GI Bill, they don’t necessarily know the fascinating history behind it. From the elevation of the VA to cabinet-status to the administration of some of the most successful youth programs in the country, The American Legion has too many noteworthy accomplishments for me to mention here. I am pleased that we now have a DVD that brings the illustrious history of The American Legion to life. This would make a great gift for any Legionnaire and a great educational tool for the general public.
“The National Executive Committee passed Resolution 6 during its October 2008 meetings, which authorized The American Legion to cooperate with Blackhorse Productions in the creation of the documentary. The project was completed at no cost to The American Legion, with a portion of the sales proceeds being allocated to The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, Child Welfare Foundation and National Emergency Fund.
“Preserving history and teaching viewers about the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans is a passion for Blackhorse Productions,” said Jason Heit, Executive Producer and CEO. “We were extremely excited to not just tell the great story of The American Legion, but to include the American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders.”
The DVDs cost $19.95 each and are available online at www.emblem.legion.org or by calling 1-888-453-4466. The stock number is 755.906.
With a current membership of 2.5-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and the mentoring of youth. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
As the department convention is approaching, I’m preparing several mini-movies to be shown before, during, or even right after the convention sessions. The mini-movies will be pictures of our Pennsylvania American Legion “Posts-in-Action” set to patriotic music. And I want to include pictures from your Post, your District, your programs!
This year’s Pennsylvania American Legion Department Convention will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg from July 15th to the 18th. After the convention, I will post the mini-movies to Department’s website for everyone to view.
The mini-movies will be made from pictures of the events involving our Pennsylvania Legion Posts. You can send pictures of your Post meetings, Christmas party, Oratorical contest, summer picnic, Legion baseball, testimonial dinner, the front of your Post building, Memorial Day parade, Veterans Day event, visiting a local school, welcoming home our current military, flag burning ceremony, or any other event held by your American Legion Post supporting your community, children & youth, Americanism and of course our veterans.
The mini-movies will be similar to the movie shown at the January Housing for Homeless Veterans benefit dinner. If you did not see the movie you can go to Department’s website to view the movie.
You can:
Send me your pictures taken during the 2009 -2010 membership year via email no later than June 15, 2010
Send as many as 25 pictures to be included as part of the mini-movies – you can send as many emails as necessary to send the 25 pictures
Write your Post # on the subject line of the email
Or mail a CD with the 25 pictures on it to Shannon Kyle, 2072 Rockfield Road, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15243 – please include your Post number with the CD
Do Not send the actual pictures – I need the pictures by email or CD only
If you don’t have pictures then ask around; you may have a Post Historian, Post Adjutant, Post Commander, or even any other members from your Post can have pictures from this current membership year 2009-2010.
2009 was a big year for the Philadelphia and Coraopolis transitional homes that are owned and operated by Housing for Homeless Veterans.
The Philadelphia home was up for a HGTV Change the World America’s Heroes contest. Our Philadelphia home went up against seven other veteran homeless shelters across the United States and we won. Monica Pedersen and Carter Oosterhouse of HGTV created the home makeover. HGTV aired the makeover on Veterans Day.
HGTV renovates the Philadelphia transitional home
The Coraopolis home also received a makeover in 2009. Congressman Tim Murphy worked with Wyatt Incorporated to volunteer man hours and all the equipment necessary to renovate 4 kitchens.
And lastly, On September 26, 2009 Jordan Hrinya accomplished her Gold Award for the Girl Scouts of America by working in one of the living rooms at the Coraopolis home.
Wyatt Incorporated works at the Coraopolis transitional home
Front row (l to r): John C. Tomosky, Commander, 1st District, American Legion Dept. of Pennsylvania; Joe Gunkle, American Legion Commander, Bridesburg Post 821; Stanley Fabiszewski, American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corp.; Michael Nutter, mayor of Philadelphia; Terry Lewis, American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corp. Back row (l to r): Carter Oosterhouse; Pennsylvania State Representative Tony Payton; John Stevens, Head Coach of Philadelphia Flyers