Veterans Of Foreign

Arnett C. Powers Jr., Maryland's second-highest Veterans of Foreign Wars official for four years, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday at his home in Bel Air. He was 80. A World War II veteran, Mr. Powers was state adjutant for the VFW from 1985 to 1989, running the administrative end of an organization that at the time served 38,000 veterans. Mr. Powers was a computer buff from the days when the machines took up whole rooms, and he brought that expertise to VFW headquarters in Baltimore, said Mike Mason, who as state VFW commander in 1985 appointed him to the post.

Albert Joseph DiSeta, a retired Bethlehem Steel welder and World War II veteran, died of congestive heart failure Thursday at Forest Hill Mariner nursing home. The former Joppatowne resident was 91. Born in Baltimore and raised in Little Italy on Fawn Street, he attended St. Leo's Parochial School and was a 1934 City College graduate. He also attended Maryland Institute College of Art. During 1935 and 1936, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and helped build the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.

J. Douglas Forrest, a retired mailroom superintendent for The Baltimore Sun and former state commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, died from complications of dementia Sunday at Brightwood Nursing Center in Lutherville. The Idlewylde resident was 86. Mr. Forrest was born in Baltimore and raised on Brighton Street. He began his career in the newspaper mailroom in 1937, a year before he graduated from Calvert Hall College High School. He became a sales supervisor in the circulation department until he was drafted into the Army in 1941.

J. Douglas Forrest, a retired mailroom superintendent for The Baltimore Sun and former state commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, died from complications of dementia Sunday at Brightwood Nursing Center in Lutherville. The Idlewylde resident was 86. Mr. Forrest was born in Baltimore and raised on Brighton Street. He began his career in the newspaper mailroom in 1937, a year before he graduated from Calvert Hall College High School. He became a sales supervisor in the circulation department until he was drafted into the Army in 1941.

Veterans of foreign wars sought for list on plaqueThe Hampstead War Memorial Committee is seeking veterans of foreign wars who want their names placed on a plaque on the Hampstead War Memorial.A copy of discharge papers, Department of Defense form DD-214 or other proof of military history is required.Families of veterans killed in action or missing, as well as residents of Alesia, Carrollton, Finksburg, Hampstead, Lineboro, Manchester, Millers, Snydersburg and Upperco are welcome to have their names placed on a new plaque.

All personnel serving in Operation Desert Storm now are eligible to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars.Joseph Stoffa, commander of theHampstead VFW, said that parents of service personnel may enroll them in their absence. Dues are $15 per year.The VFW is involved in several community service projects, including clothing drives and caring for the town's war memorial.For information on any VFW post in the county, call 998-1863.

25 years ago (week of April 18-24, 1971):Builders attended a public session of the County Council to protest proposed amendments to the building code. One source of consternation was the proposed introduction of stricter safety standards for the construction of townhouses, which included the addition of fire-resistant walls between units.50 years ago (week of April 14-20, 1946):The Yingling-Ridgely Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars held its inaugural meeting at the Ellicott City fire station, becoming the first VFW post in Howard County.

WILLIAM H. BECK, 83, passed away Tuesday evening, December 2, 2003 at Putnam Community Medical Center. Fifteen years ago, he moved to Interlachen, FL coming from his native state, Maryland. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Navy having served during World War II. His affiliations included the American Legion, Post #293 and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #10164 both of Interlachen, FL. A sign painter by trade, William was talented in several areas of art particularly in woodworking and painting.

Frederick SullivanHeaded A-1 InsuranceFrederick J. Sullivan, president of A-1 Insurance Agency Inc., died Dec. 24 at home in Baltimore after a lengthy illness. He was 67.He was also a Realtor and a past director of the Baltimore Association of Insurance Agents.The lifelong Baltimore resident earned degrees in art and law from the University of Baltimore. During World War II, he was an infantryman with the 3rd Army in Europe.Mr. Sullivan was a member of the Maryland Yacht Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Patapsco River Power Squadron.

Weldon Leroy Maddox, 82, lawyer, VFW state leaderWeldon Leroy Maddox, a retired Baltimore attorney and past Maryland state commander and national judge advocate general of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Sparks resident was 82.Mr. Maddox had a general legal practice for more than 40 years at 218 E. Lexington St. and retired in 1995. He was a member of the city, Maryland and American bar associations.Born in Wimmers, Pa., he earned his bachelor's degree from the Johns Hopkins University and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1947.

BOISE, Idaho - Stepping up their response to an antiwar movement that has gained momentum in recent weeks, President Bush and his aides said yesterday that heeding protesters' wishes to withdraw troops from Iraq would "weaken" the United States' broader efforts to combat terrorism. Bush made his remarks in a surprise appearance during a vacation day at an Idaho mountain resort, arguing that the views espoused by Cindy Sheehan, mother of a slain soldier and the founder of an antiwar encampment near the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, did not represent the opinions of most of the military families he has met. It was a new line of argument from Bush and coincided with an announcement that he would spend time today with National Guard families during a stop near Boise.

George Elmer Hofstetter Jr., a noncommissioned Navy officer whose career spanned more than 20 years, died of congestive heart failure July 16 at Continuum Care, a nursing home in Sykesville. The Highlandtown resident was 77. Mr. Hofstetter was born in Baltimore and raised on Frankford Avenue. He was a 1946 graduate of Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School, and he enlisted in the Navy in 1949. A chief electrician's mate, Mr. Hofstetter saw extensive sea duty before being discharged in 1972.

Earl L. Snyder Jr., a retired Baltimore Department of Public Works inspector and World War II gunner's mate, died Sunday at the University of Maryland Medical Center of injuries received in a fall at his Overlea home. He was 81. Mr. Snyder, who was called "Junior," was born in Shamokin Dam, Pa., and raised in Sunbury, Pa. He attended Bucknell University until enlisting in the Navy in 1943. As a gunner's mate, he served as a member of the naval armed guard assigned to Liberty ships. He participated in North Atlantic convoys including voyages to North Africa and on the famed "Murmansk Run," whose merchant ships were under continual threat of enemy attack and endured severe Arctic weather as they attempted to deliver necessary war materiel to the Russian ports of Murmansk and Archangel.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - It's early on a Thursday night at VFW Post No. 76, and the former door gunner sits in the dimness of the lounge sipping his Miller Lite. Across the room, obscured by a thin haze of cigarette smoke, two men at the long wooden bar watch a basketball game. A thin, gray-haired ex-Marine sniper ponders the jukebox choices before choosing Toby Keith. "See how peaceful it is here," says Domingo Vasquez, 58, who spent 18 months of his youth as a Huey helicopter door gunner above Vietnam's Central Highlands.

WILLIAM H. BECK, 83, passed away Tuesday evening, December 2, 2003 at Putnam Community Medical Center. Fifteen years ago, he moved to Interlachen, FL coming from his native state, Maryland. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Navy having served during World War II. His affiliations included the American Legion, Post #293 and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #10164 both of Interlachen, FL. A sign painter by trade, William was talented in several areas of art particularly in woodworking and painting.

John G. Gotzen, retired owner of an Overlea insurance agency who was active in World War II veterans affairs, died March 5 at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium of complications from cancer and a stroke. The Perry Hall resident was 79. Born in Baltimore and raised in Overlea, he was a Kenwood High School graduate. He joined the Army during World War II, and served as a combat engineer and tank commander with the 279th Combat Engineer Battalion in North Africa and Germany. He received the Purple Heart and attained the rank of staff sergeant.

Gordon W. KeilDirector, security guardGordon W. Keil, who worked more than four decades for the U.S. Printing and Lithograph Co., which later became Diamond International Corp., died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Severn. He was in his 80s."Snowy" Keil, as he was called by all who knew him for his nearly white hair, started working for the company as a teen-age office helper after his father died.He left the company to serve in World War II, and afterward, became a salesman for the company in New York City, helping pitch its labels to canning companies.

Albert Joseph DiSeta, a retired Bethlehem Steel welder and World War II veteran, died of congestive heart failure Thursday at Forest Hill Mariner nursing home. The former Joppatowne resident was 91. Born in Baltimore and raised in Little Italy on Fawn Street, he attended St. Leo's Parochial School and was a 1934 City College graduate. He also attended Maryland Institute College of Art. During 1935 and 1936, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and helped build the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.

Arnett C. Powers Jr., Maryland's second-highest Veterans of Foreign Wars official for four years, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday at his home in Bel Air. He was 80. A World War II veteran, Mr. Powers was state adjutant for the VFW from 1985 to 1989, running the administrative end of an organization that at the time served 38,000 veterans. Mr. Powers was a computer buff from the days when the machines took up whole rooms, and he brought that expertise to VFW headquarters in Baltimore, said Mike Mason, who as state VFW commander in 1985 appointed him to the post.

Weldon Leroy Maddox, 82, lawyer, VFW state leaderWeldon Leroy Maddox, a retired Baltimore attorney and past Maryland state commander and national judge advocate general of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Sparks resident was 82.Mr. Maddox had a general legal practice for more than 40 years at 218 E. Lexington St. and retired in 1995. He was a member of the city, Maryland and American bar associations.Born in Wimmers, Pa., he earned his bachelor's degree from the Johns Hopkins University and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1947.