The deadline for submissions for 2010 Scholarship Grants was May 1st.  Currently our Foundation Directors are evaluating the submissions and selecting the recipients for this years awards.  Serving as judges this year are Earl E. Killen, Julius B. "Jerry" Kraft, Thomas R. Maines, and Dr. Marco Montoya. Chairman Lynn Ball votes only when a tie occurs. 

We have pre-screened all submissions (which are numerous again this year) for eligibility, and in doing so, we have noticed the excellence of our 3^rd Infantry Division young people. Our Society should be very proud of our young generation which these applicants represent. Once grant recipients are identified, they will be notified and grants in the amount of $1000 each will be paid to their financial accounts at the colleges, universities, and technical schools they designated.

            Our judges consider every aspect of each application. The chair’s major responsibility in this area is screening for eligibility and managing the entries which are sent to our judges for their evaluation. One thing we have noticed on some applications every year involves the letters of recommendation sent on behalf of the applicants. Applicants should ensure that every person writing a letter of recommendation is truly supportive. Applicants should request letters of recommendation only from people whom they know well and who know them well. There should be a firm and successful academic relationship between teacher and student when requesting a letter of recommendation. Recommendations from people outside academia should be considered more carefully than most applicants realize. If unsure, applicants should ask the potential writer whether or not he/she can write a favorable letter of recommendation.

            We are very excited about this year’s field of applicants, and the August Watch on the Rhine will include the photographs and profiles of our 2010 grant recipients. Again, this year, we have more applicants than our budget will serve. Perhaps donations will enable us to extend our budget this year.

            We will conduct a raffle in 2011, to raise funds, and we will announce the drawing date and send out raffle tickets soon after this year’s reunion. The drawing will be at the 2011 reunion. Currently, we are gathering prizes for this event. The April issue of the Watch described the prizes we had on hand at that time, including the wonderful .36 caliber Model 1851 Navy Revolver (Uberti), donated by Wayne Conley, of Savannah, Georgia. We hope for more donated firearms, and the Foundation will try to find a good weapon at some of the gun shows between now and September. Prizes mentioned in April include a queen-size quilt with the 3^rd ID Patch donated by Kathy Daddato, A Kid from Pittsburgh donated by author Marion Rosen, Bill Maulden’s Army donated by Tom Maines, Faces of War II donated by Dr. Bae Suk Lee and Norman L. Strickbine, a complete set of state quarters donated by Bob Wakefield, and photo albums with the 3^rd ID patch. More recent donations include William J. Kunz’s book, Third and Ten, reviewed in this issue; John J. Toffy IV’s book, Jack Toffey’s War, reviewed in the April issue, and Howard Swacina’s World War II Memories, to be reviewed in August. We will publish a photo of our current prizes in the August issue. We are grateful for all of these donations, and we hope for more prizes so please consider helping with this effort. Just send your prize or donation to the Foundation at 2010 Worcester Lane, Garland TX 75040. We will include your name and a description of your prize or recognition of your donation in the August issue of the Watch and tax-certification letter are sent for all donations of prizes and monetary gifts.

            Following are the names of those who have donated to the Foundation since our last issue of the Watch. Thank you for your generosity. Helping to educate our younger generation is very worthy work. Our Society could not accomplish this without your support.

Posted 5/11/10

The Society of the 3^rd Infantry Division Scholarship Foundation is currently planning its 2010 Scholarship Grant Program. The deadline for 2010 entries is May 1^st. Applications are available on the Society website at www.3rdiv.org, on the Foundation’s website at http://www.3idscholarshipfoundation.org or by contacting Lynn Ball, Chairman, at 972-495-1704. Entries must be sent to the Foundation at 2010 Worcester Lane, Garland TX 75040. The Foundation will present at least six awards in the amount of $1,000 each. Our Directors, Earl E. Killen, Jerry B. Kraft, Thomas R. Maines, and Dr. Marco Montoya, will judge all entries in May and early June. Scholarship Grants will be paid, in mid-June, to recipients’ financial accounts at the colleges, universities or technical schools specified by the recipients. Those eligible to compete include Soldiers of the Division (past and present) and their Children, as well as the unmarried spouses and children of 3^rd Infantry Division Soldiers killed in action or who died of their wounds while serving in combat with the 3^rd Infantry Division.

            In parallel with this effort is our program to raise funds for this year’s awards. Last year, our budget was unable to serve all of our deserving applicants so we are conducting a mail-request program to raise additional funds, as well as a raffle, this year. In addition to the Foundation’s planned awards, we will present the following five awards funded through our Legacy Program and through individual contributions.

• “The Thomas W. Mason Old China Hand Award”

• “The Major General Maurice W. Kendall Award” 

• “The Terrence A. Smith Memorial Award Honoring Capt. Raymond D. Hill II”

• “The Adam Kradyna Memorial Award Honoring James Kradyna”

•  “The James and Joan Strawn Memorial Honoring Members of Golden Gate OP #54”

We are very proud to present these 2010 awards. Even though Thomas W. Mason passed away in September 2009, we will continue to honor him annually, through our Legacy Program so his name and memory of his pride in his service with the 3^rd Infantry Division will live on into perpetuity. Like Thomas Mason, Major General Kendall will be honored annually under our Legacy Program, and we hope, in the near future, to have a photograph and profile approved by General to publish in The Watch on the Rhine and to post on our website. The Terrence A. Smith award honors Capt. Raymond D. Hill II, who was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 29, 2005. It is humbling to remember our fallen heroes like Thomas Mason, Capt. Hill, and James Kradyna, an avid supporter of higher education in the field of geology, in such a special and lasting way. Our brave Soldiers deserve all the recognition we can provide. We are delighted that we can honor Major General Kendall during his lifetime, because he has done so much through both his military service to our country and through his efforts to provide scholarships to our young people through his independent program. We are also proud to present the James and Joan Strawn Memorial Award Honoring Members of Golden Gate Outpost #54, many of whom served proudly with the 3^rd Infantry Division. We hope to have more such honors included in this year’s Scholarship Grant Program and in the future.

Those interested in donating prizes for our next raffle should send them to the Foundation at the address above. We will announce the drawing date and send out tickets early this summer. Outpost #60 Member Wayne Conley, of Savannah, Georgia, has donated a Model 1851 Navy Revolver (Uberti), .36 caliber. It is new and still in its original box. Other prizes now in hand include a queen-size quilt with the 3^rd ID Patch donated by Kathy Daddato, A Kid from Pittsburgh donated by author Marion Rosen, Bill Maulden’s Army donated by Tom Maines, Faces of War II donated by Dr. Bae Suk Lee and Norman L. Strickbine, a complete set of state quarters donated by Bob Wakefield, and photo albums with the 3^rd ID patch donated by Lynn Ball. This is a good start. In matching the success of our last raffle, we hope to have at least 40 prizes. Please send anything you think our members would like. The Foundation will send you a tax-certification letter to help defray Income Tax obligations.

Those contributing monetary gifts to our program should check to learn whether or not their present or past employers have Matching Gifts Programs. Yes, many companies honor both retired employees’ and current employees’ efforts to obtain matching gifts. Participating companies usually contribute more than the donor’s original contribution—often doubling and even tripling the amount donated. These matching gifts are credited to the original donor as well as to the company participating. Just ask your company to send you a Matching Gifts Application, fill in your name and address at the top of the form, and send it to the Foundation at 2010 Worcester Lane, Garland TX 75040. The Foundation will complete the form and keep you informed regarding progress of your application. Funds contributed through Matching Gifts will be reported in the Watch and on the Foundation’s website.

Those donating to the Foundation since January are listed below. We are very grateful for your contributions, and our directors thank our donors.

Posted 3/22/10

Call for Applications for Scholarship Grants

The Scholarship Foundation is currently accepting applications from candidates seeking 2010 scholarship grants in the amount of $1000 or more. Four or more scholarship grants will be awarded in 2010. All applications must reach the Foundation by the deadline date, May 1, 2010. Our Directors will determine awards in May, and scholarship/grants will be paid in June to the recipients’ accounts at the institutions of higher learning specified on their applications. Candidates can obtain the official application and instructions needed to complete their submissions at the Society website, www.3rdiv.org, or at the Foundation website, http://www.3idscholarshipfoundation.org, or by contacting Chairman Lynn Ball at 2010 Worcester Lane, Garland TX 75040, or at 972-495-1704. Applicants’ sponsors must be Regular Members or Direct Descendant Associate Members of the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division. Soldiers of the Division may serve as their own sponsors. Please contact Lynn Ball with any questions you might have.

Those eligible to compete for scholarship grants include all Soldiers who served or are now serving with the 3rd Infantry Division and their biological or adopted offspring, as well as the unmarried spouses of Soldiers killed in action or who died of their wounds while serving in combat with the 3rd Infantry Division. Our program has been expanded to include graduate students. Remember, the deadline for entry is May 1, 2010.

Grants already Planned: In addition to the Scholarship Foundations’ direct awards, we already have two awards honoring individuals: “The Thomas W. Mason Old China Hand Legacy Award” and the “Terrence A. Smith Memorial Award Honoring Cpt. Raymond D. Hill, II.” The Thomas W. Mason Award is presented annually under our Legacy Program. An essay entitled “Rock of the Marne at the Tigris and Euphrates,” by our 2009 Legacy Award recipient, appears in this issue. Sadly, Thomas W. Mason passed away in September 2009, but his name and memory of his pride in his service with the 3rd Infantry Division will live on into perpetuity. Terrence A. Smith’s award honors Cpt. Raymond D. Hill, II, who was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 29, 2009. It is wonderful to remember our fallen heroes like Cpt. Hill in such a special and lasting way. We hope to have more such honors included in this year’s Scholarship Grant Program. Our brave Soldiers deserve all the recognition we can humbly provide.
Good News: In the December Watch, we announced the availability of several copies of Faces of War II: Red Dragon, the Second Round and requested that those wanting a copy of the book send the Foundation a suggested donation of $28.00. Since then, Dr. Bae Suk Lee, who was instrumental in obtaining the books for us, contacted the editor, Norman L. Strickbine, and explained that we might need more books. Mr. Strickbine said he would supply as many books as we need so please send us your orders. Faces of War II: Red Dragon, the Second Round is a hardback chronicle containing 468 pages featuring 190 profiles of the men and women who served during the Korean War. Along with these vignettes are hundreds of photographs, many published for the first time. Each profile begins with a photo of the individual featured, and his/her full name, serial number, nickname, MOS, birth date, hometown, and a list of medals and awards received. The profile continues with the individual’s background and experiences while serving in Korea. On each facing page are captioned photographs depicting events discussed in the profile. Included in the book are several action maps, memorials, and poems, as well as definitions of all abbreviations listed in the book; these enhance the summary of the actions during the Korean War. The remaining pages are filled with captioned photographs. It is a wonderful book to own. To order, make your check for $28.00 payable to the Foundation and send it to 2010 Worcester Lane Garland TX 75040. Enclosed with your book, you will receive a tax-certification letter for the amount donated.

Upcoming Programs: Our directors are currently in the process of developing our 2010 fundraising and Scholarship Grant programs. Last year we had many more applicants than our budget could serve. We hope, this year, to serve all deserving applicants. To do this, we need your help.

We have received many supportive comments about our 2009 raffle, and some donors have begun to send prizes for our next raffle. While no date has yet been set for another raffle, we have received Wayne Conley’s promise of a weapon, and we are looking into obtaining other weapons for a future raffle. Kathy Daddato has delivered a handmade, queen-size quilt featuring The Patch, and Paul Schewene sent two, author-signed copies of Newport: The Sin City Years, which includes information about the 7th Infantry Regiment stationed at Newport, Kentucky, in 1808. We appreciate this support and will let everyone know our decision regarding a future raffle as soon as possible. Currently, we are working on our fundraising programs to support our 2010 awards. The Scholarship Foundation is chartered by the I.R.S. as a Not-For-Profit Public Corporation, and our Directors are all volunteers who receive no payment for their services. This means that all contributions support the Foundation’s work.
Those wishing to assist in our efforts to provide scholarship grants to our Soldiers and Children of the Division should send their gifts to the Foundation at 2010 Worcester Lane, Garland TX 75040. Donations to the Foundation are tax-exempt and Letters of Tax Exemption Certification are issued by return mail to all donors. (There is a delay in word reaching us when donations to the Scholarship Foundation are sent through the Society. However, as soon as we receive notification of a donor’s gift, we issue a Tax Certification Letter.) We thank the recent contributors listed below. These contributions were received between 11/10/09 and 1/9/10.