Philadelphia, PA: On May 14, 2011, attorney, Harry Carl Schaub, was the recipient of a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, Honoris causa, from Holy Family University during the University’s graduate degree commencement ceremony at the Kimmel Center on May 14th. Sister Francesca, Holy Family’s president, presented Schaub with the honorary degree. In an acceptance address to over 2,200 guests, Schaub described his activities in the last several years as researching and writing about the Resistance against Hitler inside the German military intelligence service, the Abwehr, and focusing on the first American witness at the Nuremberg Trial, General Erwin Lahousen. He is presently writing a book about Lahousen, tentatively titled, “Call Your First Witness”. In his remarks Schaub said there is an information deficit about the Resistance, including the more than 50 officers in the Abwehr, almost all murdered by the Gestapo for being active in the Resistance. “After all there were many more Germans on our side and active against Hitler and his criminals in World War II than just the refugee and iconic singer Marlene Dietrich. Treason against Hitler was no crime.”

Having joined  Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP in 1955, Schaub holds the longest tenure among its attorneys. He retired as partner in 1999 and is of counsel with the firm. His practice area is representing foreign investors in the U.S. and public and private placements of securities.

Schaub served with the U.S. Army as a Captain in Military Intelligence and U.S. Army desk officer covering Yugoslavia. He is Commander of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars, a patriotic organization of former active-duty officers.

Schaub is actively involved in a number of foreign affairs organizations. He served as Consul General of Austria for Pennsylvania for almost 30 years; as dean and chief executive officer of the Consular Corps College; president and chief of protocol of Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia; and as founder, former president, and director of the John Peter Zenger Law Society.

For the past 15 years he has served as director of the Philadelphia Warburg Chapter of the American Council on Germany, founded in 1952 and based in New York City, which seeks to improve cooperation between the United States and Germany as part of the EU.

Stuttgart, Germany:  On 29 March 2010, the European and African Commandery met for its first meeting at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany.  The meeting was called to order by LTC Chris Herndon serving in the capacity as Organizing Secretary.  After the pledge of allegiance to the United States, Chaplain Densford led us in a opening prayer.  The first order of business was the election of Commandery officers.  The results of the election are listed.  Meeting items included discussion of future events, guest speakers, JROTC awards, and future memorial wreath laying ceremonies where MOFW should participate.

Commander
LTC Christopher Herndon, USA

Senior Vice Commander
Major Kelly Cahalan, USAF

Secretary
LT Tim Derbyshire, USN

Treasurer
LT Tim Derbyshire, USN

Reporter
LTC Christine Gaudette, USAR 

Chaplain
Chaplain (CPT) Daryl Densford, USA

Deputy Chaplain
Chaplain (Lt Col) Elwood “Mark” Barnes, USAF

Companions of the Council
Lt Col Bruce W. Willett, USAF

National Delegate
LTC Christopher Herndon, USA

Baltimore, MD:  The American Red Cross Central Maryland Chapter conducted its 12th Annual Hometown Heroes Awards Breakfast on March 19, 2010 to honor, "ordinary people doing the extraordinary, actually the uncommon heroes of the Central Maryland community."  The fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, unity, universality and voluntary service.  The Military Award was presented to COL (Ret) Joseph Nattans, a Marylander who has served five decades for our country!  COL Nattans is also a member of the Maryland Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars, and its immediate past Commander-General.

Washington, DC:  COL (Ret) Dave Ulmer, a 35-year Army Special Forces veteran and MOFW Companion in the DC Commandery, has dedicated his life to helping veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  COL Ulmer served in combat operations in Vietnam and during the first Gulf War through a variety of special operations units and suffers himself from PTSD.  Since retiring from the Army in 2000, COL Ulmer has battled his own difficulties with gaining treatment and the proper disability benefits from the Veterans Administration.  Today, he uses these experiences to help other combat veterans obtain the treatment and disability benefits they deserve.  COL Ulmer has successfully aided veterans from combat operations stretching from the Korean War to the present.

Villiers-Fossard, France:  In observance of the 65th anniversary of D-Day, more than a dozen members of the 29th Division Association, along with friends and family, to include members of Limestone Post # 72, the Regimental Post of the Association, made the trip to France in June 2009.  A part of the D-Day observance visit was the dedication of a long overdue monument honoring the 175th Infantry Regiment in the town of Villiers-Fossard near Hill 108 and in the vicinity of St. Lo.  The monument was made possible by donations from many individuals and patriotic and military associations.  The monument consists of a 9’ 8” marble shaft with the 29th Infantry Division’s insigne super-imposed at the top left.  A bronze plaque showing the unit history and a description of the battle is mounted on the shaft.  The plaque also features images of the Regiment’s unit insigne, the Presidential Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre Medal that was also awarded the regiment for its actions on Hill 108. Three Companions of the Maryland Commandery who are also members of the 29th Infantry Division Association made the trip and participated in the dedication ceremony – Senior Vice State Commander Hall Worthington, Past National Secretary-General Jack Kutcher Sr. and Companion Ivan Dooley.

Arlington, VA:  On Veterans Day (11 November 2009) nine Companions of the District of Columbia Commandery ignored rainy and chilly weather to represent the Order at the annual memorial service at the grave of General of the Armies John J. Pershing. The ceremony was impressive. The US Army Band provided music and wreaths were presented by various veterans’ organizations and by some of the embassies of foreign governments with whom the US were allied with during the First World War. SVC-G Wulf Lindenau, along with Deputy Sec-Gen for Legislative Affairs, Andrew Johnson, presented the MOFW wreath during the ceremonies. Speeches were given by the Commander, Military District of Washington, the Superintendent of Arlington Cemetery, and the Commander of the Military Order of World Wars. Along with opening and closing prayers, the Colors were presented and the National Anthem and the song “My Buddy” was sung. Along with Companions Lindenau and Johnson, Companions Roger C. Bultman, John W. Nicholson, Richards S. Flahavan, Robert D. Pollock, Kent S. Webber, Mark G. Hartell, and Cyrus R. Harrington also attended. Other organizations participating were the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Army and Navy Union, the Military Order of the Carabao, Sons of Union Veterans, and the Military Order of World Wars (the sponsoring organization).

Washington, DC:  (article by Maj. Cyrus R. Harrington, Jr.)  On November 4, 2009, Mr. Vann H. Van Diepen, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Department of State, presented the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award to Major Mark G. Hartell of the U.S. Army "in recognition of Major Hartell's outstanding achievements as Head of Delegation for the Australia Group Technical Experts negotiations on nonproliferation export control policy."  "The 'Australia Group' is an informal forum of 40 countries which, through the harmonization of export controls, seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons.  Coordination of national export control measures assists 'Australia Group' participants to fulfill their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to the fullest extent possible."

Major Hartell is a member of the District of Columbia Commandery, is the MOFW Historian-General, and is the webmaster for the MOFW website.  His outstanding work at the Department of State on behalf of our country and the associated nations involved in export controls to prevent unauthorized development of chemical and biological weapons has made a significant contribution to the welfare of humanity, and he is truly deserving of receipt of the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.

Washington, DC:  (Army News Service, Oct. 30, 2009, by Alex McVeigh) "An award more than 45 years in the making was finally received Oct. 28, as retired Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson was awarded the Silver Star for actions in Vietnam.  On Dec. 27, 1963, then Maj. Nicholson was serving as an advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Guard and Self-Defense Force. During an eight-hour battle, their force was reduced from 200 to 40, and Nicholson directed friendly fire and mortar fire to help evacuate 13 wounded Soldiers through enemy territory.  During a ceremony at Fort Myer's Conmy Hall, Nicholson received the Silver Star for those actions. An audience of more than 100 family members, friends and classmates from West Point attended."

BG John W. Nicholson is a distinguished companion in the MOFW District of Columbia Commandery.

Photo by Eleena Fikhman, Staff Photographer/Writer, Pentagram

Retired Lt. Gen. John Cushman pins the Silver Star on retired Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson at Fort Myer's Conmy Hall Oct. 28, as Brig. Gen. Karl R. Horst, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and Military District of Washington looks on.

Washington, DC:  On Monday, August 10, 2009, the Honorable Bill Livingood, Sergeant-at-Arms, United States House of Representatives, was sworn in as an Honorary Member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States.  The presentation was conducted in the U.S. Senate by Wulf R. Lindenau, Senior Vice Comander-General, MOFW, and Chris R. Lindenau, a member of the DC Commandery, MOFW.  The symbol of Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms for the U.S. House of Representatives can be seen to the right of the Hon. Bill Livingood.

Alexandria, VA:  On May 28, 2009, the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, the highest award that the Secretary of the Air Force can approve for presentation to a civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force, was presented to Robert D. Pollock for his outstanding accomplishments as an Air Force civilian employee between September 2008 and May 2009 when he implemented true change in Air Force acquisition with his efforts resulting "in significant improvements in how contracts are awarded, increases in the quantity and quality of the acquisition workforce, restraining of uncontrolled requirements growth, and implementing realistic program budgets."  Robert D. Pollock is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and is a distinguished companion in the MOFW District of Columbia Commandery.

Between September 2008 and May 2009, Col. (ret.) Robert D. Pollock implemented more true change in Air Force acquisition than all the “reformers” have accomplished in the past 5 years.  His efforts have resulted in significant improvements in how contracts are awarded; increases in the quantity and quality of the acquisition workforce; restraining of uncontrolled requirements growth; and implementing realistic program budgets.

We extend a well-earned congratulations to Col. Pollock for his continued dedicated work in defense of our great nation.