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"Good News " LETTER
Newsletter brought to you by BOTCE; Board of Total Catholic Education. Articles or ideas for articles should be submitted to the EDITOR; Kate Geiger: EMAIL kgeier2 @juno.com. Visit our website stphilipky.org
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK By Sr. Dolores Gohs Our new school year began on August 12th , and with the help of many parents and the Grandpa Gang, we had new carpet in the library and third and fourth grade rooms. There is new vinyl flooring at the main entrance. The walls of the bathrooms, the hall, the library and the third and fourth grade rooms have new paint. It was quite an undertaking, but it looks beautiful! Many thanks to all whom contributed time, effort, and energy to this project. Funding for these projects was made possible by the money made working the Bengal games. August 14 informal Open House was held to check out all the improvements.
Kindergarten and after school care program is being provided here at St. Philip’s
April 25 2004 Our little angels this year were Destiny Bachman, Jarrett Beal, Carmen Brossart, Joshua Brugger, Kyle Hoskins Daniel Joering, Noah Straman, Nathan Twehues, Caroline Woeste and Cori Ziegler CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL! EIGHTH GRADE STP GRADUATION CLASS OF 2004 May 27 was the graduation mass for the Class of 2004
Sean Brune Whitney Cundiff Tara Butts Kyle Fuchs Susan Geiger Abby Gerhardstein Miranda Hammons Chelsie Kane Nick Nelson Jordan Ruschman Adam Schultz David Webster A GREAT reception was held in the great hall prepared by the parents of the 7th grade students. We were treated to a PowerPoint slide show of the 8th graders through the years. This was put together by Julie Geiger and Paige Mounce. Thank you girls for it was a very meaningful and emotional part of the program.
Once again St. Philip Parish continued with a time honored ceremony. The annual May crowning of the statue of Mary in church. The children marched around church singing songs. As always it was a reverent and moving ceremony. We Catholics know that we are crowning a statue and we are not honoring the statue. It is a symbol of respect to show that we acknowledge that Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven. This year the honors were given to three Eighth grade girls. Susan Geiger crowned Mary, Tara Butts carried the crown and Abby Gerhardstein carried the flowers. FREEDOM CENTER FIELD TRIP BY:Tina Verst On September 30th the fifth through eighth graders visited the National Underground Freedom Center Museum. The trip was sponsored by the PTC. The students had the opportunity to see a quilt made as a timeline of an African American women’s life including her ancestry. They also had a chance to stand inside the slave pen donated by a farm owner from Mason County. Someone had built a tobacco barn to enclose the slave pen which allowed the structure to remain structurally sound for its almost 175 year existence. The students also saw various films about the Underground Railroad, exhibits on the history of slavery in the United States and those who fought to eliminate it. The group had the opportunity to eat lunch in the Discovery Room which included a fantastic view of downtown Cincinnati. The day concluded with a visit to an exhibit about injustices today including interactive programs about how almost 27 million people in our World are in slavery today. Thanks to the PTC for their financial support and to our seven chaperones who made our trip with us.
5th & 6th GRADE REPORTS BY: Mrs. Jennifer Twehues The 5th and 6th graders have been busy this year. We completed a study of the Olympics and followed the Summer Olympics in August. We entered a National Current Events Competition. We are following the NFL while playing Pigskin Geography, a program sponsored by the Kentucky Enquirer and Post. Our class receives a free set of newspapers everyday. We have used them to follow the NFL, to learn about sea turtles and to study current events for our first competition in November. We also studied Native Americans. Each student made a mask from a milk jug, masking tape, shoe polish and other decorative materials. We also made a visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. It was an awesome trip, we learned about many different people who fought for the freedom of slaves and many people who fight today for injustice in the world. We had a lot of activities in October, which included a study of the Presidential Election and Red Ribbon Week. We hosted, with the help of many other classes, a mock election for the students. The school students voted for the President through a ballot. We also participated in the National Mock Election on the internet; results were given on CNN October 28. COMPUTER LAB BY: Pam Wagner This summer Pat Geiger took our computers home and upgraded the Operating System to Windows 2000. This was a big job and I would like to thank Pat for all his hard work. Last year I began going to meeting with other computer teachers in the diocese and we have developed a curriculum for grades K through 8. The Catholic Schools of Campbell County began this effort and it is now spreading to other parts of the Diocese. The purpose of the cooperative is to try and have all the grade schools teaching some basic computer skills so the children have similar experiences when they go to High School. So this year I am trying to set up lesson plans in order to cover the curriculum this committee has put forth. This is taking a lot of time since there are no textbooks for grade schools for this purpose or at least none that I am aware of at this time. I am looking for resources to help with this effort.
We will also be starting Student of the Week in October. Our first student of the week is Jonathon Twehues. Every child will have a chance to be student of the week and will invite their parents to lunch with them on Wednesday of their week. All of our students are special and they deserve to shine in a special way one week out of the year. Congratulations to all of our students of the week.3rd AND 4th GRADES BY: Mrs. Dee Welcome back! The 3rd and 4th grade have already been hard at work. We just finished building box cities. We are gearing up for the upcoming Presidential Election. Each of us is researching an aspect of the election and will design posters from the information we gather. We will also register to vote, listen to a debate between the candidates, and vote. In science we are studying the solar system. Each of us will be making our own solar systems. On October 28th we will go the Drake Planetarium for a fun filled educational morning. We are also practicing our math skills for the Math-A-Thon. We are having fun and learning a lot. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
KINDERGARTEN CLASS BY: Wendy Neinabor The Kindergarten class is off to a great start. The children are learning the letters and sounds and studying the world around them. Soon we will be collecting leaves and sorting them by color, shape and size. We are fortunate this year to have new materials from a grant that Kate Geiger wrote for our classroom. The children have been having a great time with our new dollhouse, train set, and kitchen set. Our thanks go out to Kate once again for all her hard work on our behalf. The children have also been enjoying gym class and music class. We have a great group of singers this year. Let’s sing a song for a great school year! STUDENT MUSICIANS
A special thanks goes to our student musicians who help out with the liturgies here at St. Philip. Especially those who graduated this past May and who played the Friday morning Masses last year. They are Sean Brune who plays keyboard/organ and is now attending Campbell County and Abby Gerhardstein and David Webster who play the guitar and are now both attending Bishop Brossart High. These students along with Julie Geiger, Brandon Rumker and Stacey Woeste also help out with the weekend Masses when needed. The third Saturday evening of the month is left open for the students to play. Thanks to Mrs. Pat Fry for taking care of the other Saturdays in the month. Anyone who goes to the evening Mass and could help them out with singing in the choir, would be very much appreciated. Great job, good luck in high school and keep up the good work!As far as our present school year goes Julie Geiger plays guitar and Tony Woeste accompanies her with some percussion instruments for the Friday A.M. Mass. They are both in the 8th grade. They are also guiding a couple of our third grade students, Josh Brugger and Caroline Woeste, in playing the tambourine, sticks and moroccos for our liturgies. There are a few students taking guitar and piano lessons and we are waiting patiently for them to jump on board. Any child who would like to participate in the Friday A.M. Mass, please let me know. Third grade students and older would be able to help in playing the percussion instruments too. We usually practice once a week/as needed or as time allows. Thanks to all of you for your interest, talent and time!!
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL Present members of Council are: Paul Hehman, President Diana Hartig, Vice President Jennifer Twehues, Secretary Mike Braun, Steve Hartig Henry Johnson Members of Finance Committee: Larry Twehues Dennis Lutz Mike Feinauer Sr. Dolores Gohs Festival report 5,000 tickets were sold the year for the major raffle
BY: Lorri Mounce Present members of Board of Total Catholic Education are: Bill Twehues, President John Fessler V. President Melony Trapp, Treasurer Lorri Mounce, Secretary Nicki Johnson, Judy Joering, Chrissy Hehman, Sr. Dolores Gohs.
PROGRAM ORGANIZED.
PTC This years officers: Shelly Braun President Cathy Oldiges Vice President Jill Fessler Secretary Brenda Steelman Treasurer Denise Dennis Historian The PTC group has always got something going on. We recently completed another survey netting us close to $700. Thanks to all who participated and to Brenda Steelman for organizing. Also, we had a booth at the Senior Citizens Flea Market. We made approx. $250, selling all of your donated treasures. Thanks to Denise Dennis, Arlene Deller, and Juanita Schultz for organizing this event. Also a BIG thank you to all who donated, worked or bought! Turkey Raffle Oct 16 dinners 4-8 PIP Winner: Benny Clift won both categories K-3 and 4-8 PTC gives a $100 attendance award for each category towards tuition Bengal’s game will be Nov 7 ALL school parents are welcomed to attend a PTC Meeting (2nd Wednesday of the month – 7:00 PM) We hope to see you there! Look in the next edition of this newsletter for information on the success of our Turkey Raffle and plans for our upcoming Stagette!
Bicycle ride in Minnesota. With donations from our parish members, Theresa Brugger raised $2,020.00 for the Northern Kentucky habitat Affiliate. She rode 529 miles in seven days and the group raised over $200,00 cumulatively. Great job for a very worthy cause. BOOSTERS Present officers of the Boosters: Jack Garlich – President Judy Joering – Vice President Mike Feinauer – Secretary John Garlich - Treasurer. Dan Schultz – Athletic Director The Boosters wishes to thank all those who make Ryan Field a success. Whether you mowed grass, picked up trash, ran a league, bartended, or patronized the concession stand. THANK YOU! Without each of you we would not be able to do the great things we do for YOUR children. Men’s Softball tournament was held at Ryan Field Sept 25th Brossart Men’s & Women’s Alumni Softball Tournament was Sept 11 Please join our new officers at our monthly meeting - 1st Friday of the month – 7:30 PM to see all the great things that are going on in this very small but mighty organization. Your continued support by attending a meeting or supporting our functions is needed.
7:30 Post Time. You can purchase a horse for $5 by contacting any booster member. ST PHILIP SENIOR GROUP April June 23 to see Showboat at Falmouth KY"s Kincaid Theatre
By: Theresa Frilling Present officers of the Altar Society are: Theresa Frilling, President Gerri Cunnigan, Vice President JoAnn Muncy, Secretary Joan Frilling, Treasurer Here it is October and we are making plans to Decorate for Thanksgiving. Now that we have started Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays we will be Decorating on November 17th 2004 at 6:30PM. If any one would have Fall items to decorate with you are welcome to bring them and help or drop them off at the side vestibule before November 17th. We have decided to do the Memorial Ribbons again. This November there will be a notice in the bulletin as to when the donations will be taken up and how you would want the names on the Ribbons. Next meeting will be on November 4, 2004 at 7:00 PM. Any one wishing to join the Society is welcome to attend. Christmas Raffle is coming up anyone wishing to donate items can do so by leaving them in one of the vestibules marked Attn. Altar Society or contacting one of the Altar Society Members. The December Meeting/Christmas Raffle and Party will be on December 2nd, 200 at 7:00PM. Anyone wishing to join the Altar Society please come to a meeting and see if you would like to be a member. Anyone wishing to donate items for the decorating of Church for Thanksgiving please watch the bulletin and there will be a notice in there as to when we will need the items, we so much enjoy having a variety from everyone. BEREAVEMENT COMMITTEE By Theresa Frilling The Bereavement Committee would like to thank everyone for all their help with the Funerals we have provided for this year. Everyone has been so generous we have so many people who have helped. I don’t want to let anyone out. Just want to say THANK YOU To ALL !!!! We are going to have a Meeting on October 27th, 2004 at 7:00 PM this will be for general information the Committee and what we do. There are many ways for someone to help can be with food and drinks or help the day of the funeral and the gathering the other is if some one would be willing to be a Minister, Lector, Server or Minister of Hospitality also if there is another way you would like to help please let us know. Again Thanks for all the help it is gratefully appreciated. Just an early notice there will be a Retreat for Grieving Persons in January, Featuring Kathleen K. Cassini & Ken Czillinger This is Presented by: The National Catholic Ministry to the Bereaved at the Community of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Cincinnati , Ohio 45249. Watch the Bulletin in December for more Details.
Marvin Record from St. Peter and Paul Parish gave an account of his experience in Vietnam. It was very inspirational to hear how prayer affected his life during these trying times. The first call to prayer was in 1775 when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming this great nation . The call for prayer has continued through our history including Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of fasting and prayer in 1863. In 1952 Harry Truman declared and annual National day of prayer and in 1988 Ronald Reagan permanently set aside the first Thursday of every May for prayer. Let us continue the tradition of praying for wisdom in preserving our nation, our troops and our freedom.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY OF ST. PHILIP PRESENT OFFICERS: Ray Geiger President Bill Moher, Treasurer Karen Riley, Secretary Thanksgiving Day will soon be here – November 25. We will have our annual non-perishable food collection at Mass and again as is the Parish custom; the collection basket money will go to our organization. There will be a second collection at Mass on Sunday November 28 for anyone who was not able to contribute on Thanksgiving but wishes to contribute financially to our organization Thanksgiving Day is one of the main sources of revenue for our organization which allows us to help those in our community experiencing a financial/short term emergency. Please consider giving generously. The truck will be here in the Parish parking lot the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November 20 & 21. We will be collecting used clothing and household items in good usable condition. Christy Barbian Memorial Fund Fundraiser May 28 at St. Philip’s great hall was a great success. WORSHIP COMMITTEE Present Officers are : Pam Wagner, President Kathy Alwell, Vice President Ralph Cooper, Secretary Labor Day Mass was celebrated Sept 6 2004 9:00 am with fellowship, donuts, coffee. Anointing of the sick was Sept 26 at the 11:00 Mass Eucharistic Adoration started September 16
Holy hours as we used to call them begin at 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM every Thursday. This fall, the Eucharist is being displayed for holy hours of prayer and reflection. Parish members are signed up for specific hours so that someone is always in church praying. If you are not signed up but would like to stop in any Thursday, Please don’t hesitate to come in for a visit with our Lord. This is a perfect way to obtain many graces for our families and loved ones. HILDA V. FUTSCHER PAVILION BY: Judy Garlich Many of St. Philip parishioners enjoyed using the pavilion this year of 2004. There were birthday and graduation parties along with family reunions. How does a parishioner reserve the pavilion? Call Judy or John at 781-1050. Some Saturdays and Sundays are available for 2005 still. There is just one Saturday open in August, 2005. The fee of $25.00 helps the Boosters to pay for the electric, water, monthly dumpster fee, and the gasoline that is used for the mowers, trimmers, etc. Some groups even pass a hat for donations. The highest amount collected was $125.00. The people appreciated the pleasant surroundings.Many thanks go to the four or five men who volunteer their time to mow and trim the large grassy area. Much time and energy is spent each week keeping the grass in check. As for cleaning, those who use the place clean before and after using it.
November 12, the seventh and eighth rank students walk at Pendery Park to raise money for an organization that helps unwed mothers and to raise the children’s awareness for the Right to Life
OCTOBER WAS NATIONAL CLERGY APPRECIATION By: Kate Geiger This is a new one on me. I guess the card companies keep coming up with these. However, I do think it is a good idea to write a note of appreciation and encouragement even though October is over. We can still write little notes to Father Cooney through Sr. Dolores. Father Urlage certainly deserves a note of appreciation for the wonderful job he is doing in Fr. Cooney ‘s place
RECYCLE NEWS There is a container for bagged cans near the loading dock near the Cafeteria entrance and also at the Parish Center. They are marked Aluminum Cans Only for Recycling. Please keep the Garbage out of the can Receptacles most people have been; only a few have been putting other things in the barrels at Ryan Field. It goes so much faster when they are being bagged if they are clean. Thanks to all for your effort to help keep the grounds clean and save for school at the same time. Working together is rewarding. School just earned $312.00 from this effort. ST. PHILIP SUMMER BIBLE SCHOOL 2004
Vacation Bible school June 14 – 18 Lava - Lava Island adventure where Jesus’ love flows. This summer’s program was a huge success. The participants number doubled from last year to around 70 young children eager to have fun and learn about Jesus. There was even a large exploding volcano as part of the experience. We had over 30 adults who volunteered to help with the program.
CUB SCOUT PACK 495 Welcome to Cub Scout Pack 495. We are proud to welcome our new group of Tiger Cubs, Tyler Futscher, Timmy McDonald, Cole Miller, and Jonathon Twehues. Although we are already underway with a new season, it is still not too late to join. We meet at the Parish Center on Thursday nights about twice a month. Cub Scouts include ranks for boys 1st through 5th grade. We are also affiliated with Boy Scout Troop 86 for the older boys. Contact Jerry Brugger 635-6080 if you are interested in joining. In September we enjoyed a hike at the Nature Center at Campbell County Park. Special thanks to Mr. Clift for organizing this event. Later in the month, many scouts took advantage of the Archery and BB Academy at Camp Michael’s. Other scouts attended the Fishing Derby at Camp Frielander. Upcoming in October is the Annual Popcorn Sales, please support a scout by purchasing popcorn. Special thanks to Judy Joering for being the Popcorn Chair. Later in October we will have our Halloween Party and Pumpkin carving. Every scout will have a chance to create his own masterpiece. In November, some dedicated scouts may receive their Emblems of Faith from Bishop Foyes during a ceremony at the Cathedral. Later in November, much excitement will surround the Raingutter Regatta. The boys will race model sailboats that they build themselves, and power them with as much wind as they can produce themselves. Let me tell you, I think we're in for a typhoon!December will bring Cub Winter Day. Winter Day is an outdoor adventure that a young boy will never forget. Please bring many spare gloves
Ron Heiert, Director ANNUAL APPEAL…
Kudos: Joanna Feinauer awarded a scholarship to Thomas More College and Cap. Co Rural Softball league Joel Rumker awarded a scholarship to University of Cincinnati Renee Geiger awarded the Jack McGarr Memorial Scholarship Susan Geiger awarded the Michael Neltner Memorial Scholarship Renee Geiger Student Council Sr. Vice President Chris Farris, Renee Geiger French Video – 3rd Place Emma Feinauer Spanish II 11th place National Spanish Exam Amy Deidesheimer 19th Place Spanish Exam Brandon Rumker 22nd in National Spanish I Exam Many of our STP Alumni are active in BBHS sports: Stacey Woeste plays fast pitch softball and basketball, Amy Deidesheimer played fast pitch softball Amy & Abby Gerhardstein play soccer Joel Rumker, David Webster, ran cross country Emma Feinauer and Susan Geiger ran girl’s cross country. Michael Doyle played baseball .KY Language All Star: Sept 25, Christopher Farris was recognized at the KY World Language Association fall Conference as a KY Language All Star for his First Place Win at the Stage Language Festival last spring. Chris is a Senior French student in the Advanced Placement class and he won in the category of Oral Proficiency Level Three at the University of KY, May 14.After a special breakfast for the All stars and their parents, Chris and his teacher Mimi Hagedorn were recognized at the keynote session at the Louisville Marriott before a group of some 400 people. Congratulations Chris. MY TRIP TO BELIZE By Lindsay Weckbach I want to start off with how grateful I am with any donations and prayers the parish members gave me on my trip to Belize. As I reflect back on my week in Belize, I want to share some thoughts and feelings I experienced. The many people we interacted with and met were just great in making this trip meaningful. The small gesture of just a smile to them lit up an amazing face like you had just told them they were winning the lottery. They talked about how much they loved Americans. It made you feel proud to see others look at our country that way. Our mission in Belize was to paint houses, teach children, and build the first flushing bathroom in San Narcicso, hospitality, and stucco. Teaching children was tough because the kids grew so close to some of us and at the end of the week they were filled with tears like they were losing something very important to them. They were beautiful kids at heart.. They just wanted to be loved.
I just want to say thanks to the parish in helping make this trip possible. It will always be an experience kept in my heart of the many people I had supporting me on this amazing trip. Editor’s note: Present senior Michael Doyle from our parish also made the trip to Belize with the Brossart students.VETERANS DAY: NOVEMBER 11 By Kate Geiger In honor of veteran’s day this year, I interviewed one of our own special veterans here in Melbourne, Mike Neltner. I have been bugging him for a couple of years to write his story. He was reluctant because he was afraid he wouldn’t remember if I wanted really particular aspects of the story. I decided to write it for him and came prepared with a list of questions to help get things started. I told him all I knew about the Korean War was what I saw watching the TV show MASH.
Mike was drafted in January of 1951. Willie Ritter from 4 Mile who is still alive and Herald Herman from Newport, KY were also drafted. There were also a few guys from Dayton. They were drafted into the Army and had 13 weeks of basic training at Ft. Knox, KY. Mike said they came home for one month and then left for Korea. The Cincinnati Airport was just being built and there weren’t a lot of flights out yet. He took a plane from Cincinnati to Dayton to Detroit, Michigan to Minneapolis to Billings Montana to Great falls Montana to Spokane Washington to Seattle. What a day of traveling up, down, up, down, and up and down. From Seattle Washington he boarded a troop ship to Yokohoma Japan. It took 16 days to cross the Pacific Ocean. From Yokohoma they traveled by rail to Sasebo, Japan. There they boarded a Japanese ship and crossed the Sea of Japan and landed in Puson, Korea. I commented that it hardly seemed like enough training before going to war. How did he get his training for the tanks? Mike said that he did get some training on tanks in basic but one month in Korea with "hands on" gave more learning than 3 months in boot camp. You had to learn fast in Korea. When I asked him what he did on the tank, he said that first he loaded the shells into the 76MM gun to be fired from the tanks for about 3 months, then he went to the gunner position for about 3 months and finished his tour as a Tank Commander the last 3 months. I asked how he got into the tank group. Mike said that one morning the Sergeant came in and asked for a tanker. Mike said he really didn’t want to be infantry so he raised his hand and the Sergeant said, "Okay, you’re a tanker"
At one time the 5-man crew in Mike’s tank were all soldiers from KY. 2 were from Louisville, one from the lower part of KY, Mike and Rollie. Life in a tank was always on the go. They were used mostly to patrol. Korea has a hilly terrain and they crossed a lot of it. Tracks would get blown off with mines and they would repair them. There was a crew in the Division who did most of the big maintenance jobs. Gas tanks for refueling followed at a safe distance from the tanks. Mike said that the tanks drew heavy artillery fire. The infantry usually followed behind the tanks and worked hand in hand with them. However they were often not happy to join up with the tanks because the tanks did draw the artillery fire.. Tanks do not have a/c in them or heaters. The weather was the main enemy. The cold weather element was as bad as the fighting. There was no getting warm. You were cold all the time. You never touched the metal of the tank without gloves or your skin would stick to it .Mike said their captain was killed during the action. A Company had 4 platoons. 5 tanks were in each platoon so you would have 20 tanks in a Company. His tank was 7-17-1. They were the 17 infantry regiment 7th division. TK13 was His tank number. TK for tank 1st Platoon and #3 tank in the group. A truck with water also was part of the team that followed a safe distance behind the tanks. I asked how fast the tanks could travel. He thinks that 30 MPH was the fastest they could go. I asked my brother about the tanks being used in Iraq. The Marine tanks go about 35 MPH normally and 69 MPH on a straight road.Mike said the tanks used in Korea were similar to those used in WWII. Tanks had a telescopic site to zero in on the target. Today’s tanks are laser guided and lock in on the target or several targets and the computer remembers and executes the shot when the button is pushed.I asked about the letters from home. Mike said that the mail system was pretty regular. You would have some weeks where it was held up and then it would come all at once. They did receive packages from home. I asked Mike where he bought stamps to mail letters home. He said they didn’t need postage. The Army took care of that. Mike’s wife, Ruth was just an acquaintance at the time but she wrote Mike every day. She said she heard the soldiers liked to get letters. She always wrote in green ink so her letters would stand out from all the others. They had met shortly before he left at one of the Benevolent Grove Dances, which were held where the Cold Spring Library building now stands. They got engaged after he was out of the service and were married in 1955. Next year they will celebrate 50 years of marriage. . I asked Mike if they got R&R rest and relaxation. I remembered this from watching MASH. After spending six months in Korea he was granted R & R for a period of one week’s stay in Tokyo, Japan. He said the Japanese food was good and there were clubs that had American food. But Mike said the Japanese beer was great! He flew to and from Japan in an airplane and stayed one short week. The worst part of R&R was thinking about going back to Korea.Mike said one of his best friends in Korea was an African American named Thompson from Pennsylvania. He was a great guy. I asked if they have ever had any reunions and he said no. He kept in contact with a few people shortly after the war but then you get on with the business of your life. Occasionally He would see the guys who lived in Cold Spring and Newport. Korea was dirty and miserable. In the rainy season you’d be wet for a week at a time. They never had resistance from enemy tanks but they feared the anti-tank guns and bazookas that could pierce the armor of the tank.I asked about the food, Mike said they had c-rations for food and they were okay. I told him the Marines in Iraq have what they call MRE’s meals ready to eat. He had a photo in his album of someone doing laundry. The washing machine was a barrel over a wood fire with water and they dipped the clothes up and down with a stick. They didn’t have the opportunity too often to wash their clothes. They never took a bath in the winter. Warmer weather they took a bath if they were near a river. Sometimes at a camp, they had makeshift showers set up.The tank was their home often times they slept inside sitting up in their seats. If weather were better, they would put up tents/tarps and attach them to the side of the tank. I asked if there was a trunk to store their gear. "No," Mike said they strapped the tarps etc. to the back outside of the tank.I asked Mike what the general publics reception was like when he returned since I knew that WWII had parades and I remembered that after Vietnam the soldiers didn’t wear their uniforms in public because people would yell at them and call them murderers or war mongrels. He said he didn’t think they really did anything. The Korean Conflict wasn’t considered a war. It was a police action. Mike said he feels like if they shoot at you – you call it a war. They were fighting the North Koreans and the Chinese. South Koreans were in their outfits helping the cooks etc. They even had a young boy who tagged along for a while with the infantry named Domino. He was a nice little guy. He would hang around them when they were returning for orders or repairs or just rest. Mike never did hear what happened to him. I asked if he was able to go to church. No church ever but once in a great while a chaplain would set up a table for Mass. This was really once in a great while.
I asked Mike if he had seen the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C. He had not but Ruth however did say that she was able to see it. It is a most impressive monument, which gives you chills when you see it. At least this was my impression of the Korean memorial when I saw it. I am very grateful to Mike for sharing this information with me so that I could put his story in the newsletter. Recounting the past often brings unwanted memories and I appreciate his generosity to share this with a younger generation so that we know what those before us had to endure. |
Congratulations to:
MAY CROWNING- Sunday May 2, 2004
Mark your calendar for the St. Philip Christmas program. The date is set for Wednesday, December 22nd at 7:00p.m. The play will take place in the Great Hall this year. Please feel free to bring your family and friends as you prepare for the Christmas Season. 
BOTCE
HABITAT 500 
NOVEMBER 20 is NITE AT THE RACES
ALTAR SOCIETY NEWS
ST. PHILIP NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER - May 6 at 7PM
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION WEEKLY AT STP!
OCTOBER WAS RIGHT TO LIFE MONTH
OCTOBER WAS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTHBY: Kate Geiger This September was the 3rd year anniversary of my diagnosis for breast cancer. I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of annual doctor’s exam, self-exam and annual mammograms. Don’t think it couldn’t happen to you There is a false sense of security because you don’t have a lot of the other indicators that may make your chances of breast cancer higher. It doesn’t matter what the percentages say if you are the percent that is diagnosed. the earlier you detect your stage the easier and better the treatment success will be. I also wanted to thank our community and parish family for all their help during the year that I went through chemo and radiation. Prayers are always a great help.
Mike served in the Korean conflict and was in a tank division. I was especially curious about his story because my brother who is a Marine is a tank commander so I had questions about the differences in today’s tanks and those used in Korea.
Mike arrived in Pusan, Korea in July of 1951. When he got to his outfit, he saw a guy he thought looked familiar. What were the odds? He looked over and Rollie Boden (now deceased) from Cold Spring, KY was saying "Hey what are you doing here?", "Same as you I guess". Rollie had been there 3 months before Mike. Howard Bill from Newport was also in their outfit. He was a cook. He took care of Mike.
On Mike’s return from trip from Korea, he left Inchon by ship then stopped in Japan and went by a ship to San Francisco. They took a train to Ft. Knox. He said it was the nicest ride because he was headed home, the scenery was great traveling across the USA and he had a nice Pullman car to sleep in. Mike had one month before he had to report back to the Army. He thought sure he would go back to Ft. Knox but to his surprise he was sent to Fort Hood in Texas.