index

Since 1950, the Association of the United States Army has worked to support all aspects of national security while advancing the interests of America's Army and the men and women who serve. AUSA is a private, non-profit educational organization that supports America's Army - Active, National Guard, Reserve, Civilians, Retirees and family members. AUSA membership is open to anyone who wants to foster the Army objectives and its soldiers.

Loyalty
Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other soldiers.

Duty
Fulfill your obligations.

Respect
Treat people as they should be treated.

Selfless-Service
Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.

Honor
Live up to all the Army values.

Integrity
Do what's right, legally and morally.

Personal Courage
Face fear, danger, or adversity (Physical or Moral).

Wreaths Across America honored veterans' gravesides at Arlington National Cemeteries and hundreds of others on December 10, 2011. Your Major Samuel Woodfill chapter purchased 10 wreaths each for the Dayton (Ohio) National Cemetery and the National Cemetery near Fort Thomas, KY. Chapter members, COL (r) John Lusa and CSM (r) Walter Howard, participated in ceremonies at both sites. Because of inclement weather ceremonies at Fort Thomas were held indoors at the VA hospital.

Your Chapter Lends Hand to Soldiers, Veterans, Offsprings

Your Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter distributed grocery cards to 105 veterans and soldiers who are outpatients at the Cincinnati and Dayton VA Medical Centers through its 2011 "Operation Christmas Cheer" program. In addition, other hundreds of soldiers and veterans in need have received financial stipends and 16 offsprings have received $1000 college scholarships through the chapter's "Soldier and Family Support" program during the past five years The programs are financed through various sources. The Christmas Cheer program benefited from special events at Cincinnati's Embers and Chc-fil-a restaurants, as well as generous donations from individuals. The support program's primary source of funds is generated from the chapter's annual golf benefit, as well as generous donations from individuals. Below are sample "thank you" responses from recipients:

"I wanted to take the time to thank you and the Association of the United States army for the holiday wishes and gift card. It was totally unexpected and much appreciated. I am proud to have served our great nation and even prouder that we as veterans and retirees are not overlooked, especially by our own."

"Our family would like to thank you for your great generosity to us. We feel so blessed to have received such a nice gift. May God bless all of you for your generosity."

"Thank you so much for the gift card as a veteran I truly appreciate it. It meant a lot to me."

"Thank you very much for the gift card. We were able to buy food to feed our whole family Christmas dinner."

"We are so proud and thankful to be a part of our country and so incredibly grateful for the support which has been extended to us during this past holiday season during a financial difficulty."

"I an writing to thank you again for your generous scholarship and to assure you that I am taking advantage of all the opportunities it has given me."

Successful Golf Outing Benefits Soldiers, Families
237th Army Birthday was celebrated at Clovernook Country Club

The 7th annual AUSA golf benefit conducted by the Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter in honor of the Army's 237th Birthday was a great success. It was made possible through the major sponsorship of Bell Helicopter. Other important sponsors were Projetech Inc., David Siebenburgen, Wells Fargo Advisors, AUSA 2nd Region, Huntington Bank and UBS Financial Services. Hole and other sponsors are listed below. As a result, a major financial contribution will be made to the chapter's Soldier and Family Support Fund. The chapter can continue its support of Army soldiers, veterans and their families for another year. A big thank you to the more than one hundred golfers, sponsors and the golf committee headed by CSM (r) Walter Howard and LTC (r) Paul Fellinger.
Hole sponsors are: AFC Industries, Anderson Ferry Dental, ATR Distributing, Blue Grass Metals,
bluelock, Business Information Solutions, Camargo Investment Management, Caruso Logistics, Cintas, David A. Meyer, DBL Law, Deloitte & Touche, Firestone, Brogan Folz, Honorable Steve Chabot, J & B Steel Erectors, James Glick, Jim Carlin, Jim Jones, JK Chili, Madeira Ohio, John Lusa, Judge Melissa Powers, Kit & Dr. Jim Petricone-DDS, Kroger, L-3 Fuzing and Ordnance, Lenny's Fruits & Vegetables, Nate Pelitier, Projetech, Reliable Castings, Richard A. Buller, Schiff, Kreidler-Shell !nc, Sharon & Dr. Danny Morgan, Skyline Chili Walnut Hills-Oakley, Stagnaro, Thomas Graham Associates, Triplefin, Trustaff, USO, Vesi, and Whitmer & Company CPAs.
In-Kind supporters are: AbeTech, AutoZone, Jeff Bernhardt Plumbing, Brehob, Peak 10, Dick's Sporting Goods, Ferguson Enterprise, Michael Green, Frisch's Restaurants, Inc, O'Neil & Associates, Kroner Dry Cleaners, Primavista, Weld Plus, Martin and Associates, PNC Bank, RJL & Associates, Brewer Company, Peak 10, Rick Landrum, Paul Fellinger, Dennis Gandert.

In the group picture taken during the ROTC awards dinner of the AUSA Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter are, left to right, LTC Daniel Redden, LTC Phil Wolford, Cadet Larry Holman, LTC William Gallinger, Cadet Anthony Cesalu, Cadet Christsopher Kzpucinski, Herb Heilbrun, Cadet Colin Zidar, LTC Kevin Wissel, Cadet Paul Winfield, LTC Mike Thomas, Cadet Brian Johnson and LTC Terry St. Peter.
More photos taken at the event are on on the Newsletter page.

Your Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter is again cited by the Dayton VA Medical Center for its 2012 "Operation Christmas Cheer" that provided grocery gift cards to veterans and their families. William G. Wall, manager of the OEF/OIF Program at the center in awarding the certificate at left to the chapter is quoted as follows: "I wanted to personally thank you for all your work in fund raising and making this year's OPERATION Christmas Cheer an outstanding success. Your hard work and compassion provided the foundation for an enjoyable Christmas holiday for 106 of our Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans and their families. It is an extraordinary blessing to have your chapter's assistance in the work we do with the OEF/ OIF veterans as they make the sometimes arduous journey from combat to community. Your efforts have ensured that the glide path is a little smoother for those we serve."

Chapter Video Focuses on Soldier Support

In 2006, your Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter established a Soldier Support Program as a means to provide financial assistance to our area soldiers, veterans and their families in need. These cases are brought to our attention through various sources, such as the family readiness contacts at Reserve and Ohio National Guard units, volunteers at VA Medical Centers, individuals and organizations, such as Blue Star Mothers and Operation Thank You. In the subsequent years, the Chapter had difficulty satisfying all the requests, so it sponsored a golf outing, in conjunction with the Army's birthday, to raise additional funds. That was followed several years later with a fund raising effort in November, to provide grocery gift cards to soldiers and their families. To see the video that describes the Soldier Support Fund click the following: Woodfilll video.

AUSA Golf Benefit for Soldier Support

The Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter of AUSA is hosting its 8th annual Golf benefit, Monday, June 10, 2013, to raise funds for its Soldier Support Program. These funds are directed tor our area soldiers, veterans and their families who are in financial need. During the past seven years the chapter has raised some $120,000. The program also recognizes top area Army NCOs, ROTC cadets, and awards scholarships to children of soldiers from our area. See the article below for a chapter video that highlights the Soldier Support Program. The chapter's golf benefit also honors and celebrates the U.S. Army's 238th birthday. The golf benefit is to be held at the Clovernook Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio. Registration and light lunch begin at 11:00 a.m. A shotgun start golf scramble is at 1:00 p.m. There is a dinner after golf, at approximately 5:00 p.m. Colonel Andy Anderson, a recent inductee into the Special Forces Hall of Fame, is our guest speaker. For further questions, please contact Paul Fellinger at (513) 451-9881 or email at paulf@fuse.net or contact Walt Howard at (513) 752-9734.
Click here to download a copy of the golf flyer and registration form.
You can pay by credit card or PayPal, but please mail completed form.

Chapter Honors Six Army ROTC Cadets

The Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter, AUSA, honored top Army ROTC cadets, as selected by their Professors of Military Science, from each of the six universities in our area. The cadets and presenters are:: Central State University, Cadet Paul Winfield (LTC Mike Thomas); University of Cincinnati, Cadet Christsopher Kzpucinski (LTC William Galinger); University of Dayton, Cadet Larry Holman (LTC Daniel Redden); Ohio University, Cadet Brian Johnson (LTC Terry St. Peter); Wright State University, Cadet Anthony Cesalu, (LTC Phil Wolford), and Xavier University, Cadet Colin Zidar, (LTC Kevin Wissel). The awards took place during a general chapter meeting at the Wyndham Garden Hotel. A vibrant speaker for the evening was Herb Heilbrun, a highly decorated pilot and commander of a B-17 Flying Fortress, 32nd Squadron, 301st Bomber Group.

The Major Samuel Woodfill Chapter honored three NCOs from its area of operations at a general membership dinner meeting at the King's Island Conference, Mason, Ohio, on April 27, 2013.
The keynote speaker for the evening was CSM Donald E. Thomas, retired, who concluded his career as the Command Sergeant Major, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, Unites States Forces Korea, and Eighth Unites States Army, Youngsan, Korea. He discussed the lack of a new Army budget and how it has been functioning for three years under a continuing resolution. He mentioned military benefits and retirement needs to be protected. There should be no change to the retirement system, which is well suited to today's force. He says Congress needs to be watched.
The Master of ceremonies for the NCO awards ceremony was CSM William Pewther, retired, the chapter's vice president for NCO and Enlisted Affairs. The first honoree was SFC Matthew F. Helmes, 1st Platoon, H&H Battery, 174th ADA, Army National Guard. His presenter was CPT Matthew Young. The second honoree was SSG Schelee K. Riddell, 940th Military Police Co., also Army National Guard. Her presenter was CPT Joshua Futrell. The third honoree from the U.S. Army Reserve was SGG Arron M. Collett, 396th Engr Co., 478th Engineer Battalion. Because of being on active duty for training he was not present for the awards ceremony.
All of the honorees, in addition to being presented handsome plagues will be the guests of the chapter at the AUSA national meeting this fall in Washington, DC.