PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org June 1, 2023 | AUSA Extra 1 AUSA extends scholarships deadline T he deadline to apply for more than $320,000 in national scholarships from the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army has been ex- tended to June 16. AUSA is awarding 41 scholarships in 2023. Three others are adminis- tered in conjunction with the Army. To apply, click here. Those selected to receive an AUSA national scholar- ship will be notified in July. AUSA national scholarship ap- plicants must be active AUSA Pre- mium members, Association Partner members or their children or grand- children. Membership is not a pre- requisite for the Army scholarships administered by AUSA. AUSA’s national scholarships in- clude awards for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) pro- grams, and general studies. In the STEM category, AUSA will award 10 Delta Dental Oral Health and Wellness Scholarships valued at $2,000 each; two Joseph P. and Helen T. Cribbins Scholarships val- ued at $10,000 each; and six Nicholas D. Chabraja Scholarships valued at $5,000 each. The Delta Dental program provides scholarships for the advancement of oral health and wellness. Applicants may pursue programs such as den- tistry, nursing, home health care aid or caregiver training. The Joseph P. and Helen T. Crib- bins Scholarships honor the memory and legacy of Joseph and Helen Crib- bins, longtime supporters of America’s Army and AUSA, while the Nicholas D. Chabraja Scholarships honor the past chairman of AUSA’s Board of Directors. Both may be used for com- pleting degrees in STEM areas. There also is a new $10,000 scholar- ship sponsored by the Medical Tech- nology Enterprise Consortium, a nonprofit biomedical consortium that collaborates with the Army Medical Research and Development Command to promote the development and deliv- ery of medical technologies to improve the health and safety of military per- sonnel, veterans and civilians. AUSA’s general studies scholar- ships consist of the new GEN Carl E. Vuono Leadership Scholarship; the SMA Leon Van Autreve Scholarship Program; General Jack N. Merritt Scholarships; completed coursework scholarships; and three full scholar- From left to right, Medal of Honor recipients retired Master Sgt. Leroy Petry, Sgt. Maj. Thomas Payne and retired Col. Bruce Crandall, along with Col. David Rowland, commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier May 25 to mark National Medal of Honor Day. (U.S. ARMY/ELIZABETH FRASER) Harris Addresses West Point Class of 2023 3 World War I Unknown to Be Laid to Rest 4 Graphic Novel Highlights ‘Greatest’ WWI Hero 5 Member Benefits Online Seminars Coming Soon 7 Chapter Highlights Arsenal of Democracy Braxton Bragg 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 5 JUNE 1, 2023 See Scholarships, Page 3 Honoring the FallenWhatever your objective, Cummins gives you rugged and dependable power to achieve it. Our fully modernized V903 engines provide up to 560 kW of reliable power for tanks, armored personnel carriers, armored earthmovers, mobile rocket launchers and more. Plus, we offer multiple ways to keep command centers, mobile hospitals, forward operating bases and weapons systems up and running. In the field or on base, Cummins gives you the power to succeed. Find out more at cummins.com/defense THE POWER TO TAKE ON ANY MISSIONwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY June 1, 2023 | AUSA Extra 3 Harris: Army’s newest officers face an ‘unsettled world’ Vice President Kamala Harris greets ca- dets during the 2023 commencement at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) AUSA Basic Members can now view a selection of articles from the June issue of ARMY magazine. To read the articles, click here. ARMY magazine June issue ships for Trident University. The new GEN Carl E. Vuono Lead- ership Scholarship, worth $25,000, honors the former Army chief of staff who served on AUSA’s Board of Direc- tors for 20 years. During his tenure, Vuono provided leadership, guidance and unwavering support for AUSA’s continued growth. In honor of Leon Van Autreve, the fourth sergeant major of the Army who was instrumental in establish- ing the NCO education system, eight scholarships are available: one for $25,000, one for $10,000, one for $5,000 and five for $2,000, for a total of $50,000. Two $5,000 scholarships will be awarded in honor of the late Gen. Jack Merritt, a former president of AUSA. For those with debt from recently completed college courses or profes- sional certifications, eight $2,500 scholarships are available. Three scholarships valued at up to $48,000 each will be awarded for Tri- dent University, an accredited online institution offering bachelor’s and mas- ter’s degrees that gives credit for lead- ership and professional experience. AUSA also administers these Army scholarships: the SGM Larry Strick- land Memorial Fund and Scholarship, the SGM Dawn Kilpatrick Memorial AUSA Scholarship, and ROTC schol- arships. Scholarships From Page 1 I n a history-making address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, Vice President Kamala Harris congratulated the Army’s newest officers while warn- ing that they face an “increasingly unsettled world.” “The world has drastically changed,” Harris, the first woman to give the commencement address at West Point, said May 27 to the Class of 2023. Longstanding principles are at risk, Harris told the nearly 950 graduating cadets. In addition to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, China is “rapidly mod- ernizing its military and threatening both the freedom of the seas and rules of international commerce,” Harris said. Autocrats have become bolder, the threat of terrorism persists, and an accelerating climate crisis contin- ues to disrupt lives, she said. “In the face of all these challenges ... a strong America remains indis- pensable to the world plays a singu- lar role of leadership,” Harris said. A critical part of America’s strength is its military. “Our military is a force that underwrites global stability and our national security,” Harris said. “And it is this pillar of our strength where you, cadets, have dedicated yourself to lead.” Soldiers around the world defend America’s ideals, Harris said. “And soon, as officers in the United States Army, you will join the ranks of those brave warriors and make your own mark on the world,” she said. Harris’ visit was her first to West Point, according to the Associated Press. Commencement addresses at the military academies usually are delivered by the president, vice president or a high-ranking military official, which until now meant the speakers have always been men. Harris, who in her remarks noted the 75th anniversary of the integra- tion of women in the military as well as the desegregation of the military, was joined at the commencement by Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, the first woman to serve as the Ar- my’s top civilian leader. The Class of 2023 is ready for the challenges that await, Harris said in her remarks. “Today, our nation turns to each of you for the strength that you have built here at West Point. The physical strength, the mental strength, the emotional strength, and the strength of charac- ter,” she said. “And in years to come, I promise you, you will be tried, and you will be tested, and I am so very confident that you will rise to each occasion, whatever comes your way.”www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | June 1, 2023 Gen. Bob Brown, USA Ret. President and CEO, AUSA Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, USA Ret. Vice President, Leadership and Education, AUSA Luc Dunn Editor Desiree Hurlocker Advertising Manager Advertising Information Contact: Fox Associates Inc. 116 W. Kinzie St. • Chicago, IL 60654 Phone: 800-440-0231 Email: adinfo.rmy@foxrep.com ARTICLES. Articles appearing in AUSA Extra do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers or members of the Council of Trustees of AUSA, or its editors. Articles are expres- sions of personal opinion and should not be interpreted as reflecting the official opinion of the Department of Defense nor of any branch, command, installation or agency of the Depart- ment of Defense. The publication assumes no responsibility for any unsolicited material. Email: extra@ausa.org ADVERTISING. Neither AUSA Extra, nor its publisher, the Association of the United States Army, makes any representations, warranties or endorsements as to the truth and accuracy of the advertisements appearing herein, and no such representations, warranties or en- dorsements should be implied or inferred from the appearance of the advertisements in the publication. The advertisers are solely respon- sible for the contents of such advertisements. MEMBERSHIP RATES. Premium membership rates are $40 for two years or $75 for five years. Lifetime membership is $400 and can be paid in full or in four monthly installments. A special Premium rate of $10 for two years is open to E1–E4 and cadets only. New two-year Basic membership with select benefits is free. Learn more at www.ausa.org/join or by emailing membersupport@ausa.org, phoning 855-246-6269, or mailing Fulfillment Manager, P.O. Box 101560, Arlington, VA 22210-0860. Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Unknown US soldier from WWI to receive full honors burial in France AUSA members can save more than $200 with a buy one, get one free off er for BrainSpan Neuro Health Assessments. With BrainSpan testing, you can find out if you’re predisposed to any conditions or health maladies that could impact brain health. Visit www.brainspan.com/ausa and enter coupon code AUSA2FOR1. F or the first time in 35 years, the remains of an unknown U.S. soldier from World War I will be buried in an American cem- etery in France. Officials with the American Battle Monuments Commission will carry out the burial on June 7 at the Oise- Aisne American Cemetery in north- ern France. It will be the first burial of an American unknown from World War I since 1988. The soldier’s remains were discov- ered in February 2022 by a French undertaker excavating a new grave in the village cemetery of Villers-sur- Fère, according to the commission’s documentation of the discovery. The site is about 62 miles northeast of Paris, where in the summer of 1918 there was fierce combat between American and German forces. The undertaker discovered the hu- man remains as well as American field equipment and ammunition, in what appeared to be a hasty burial of a World War I-era soldier, the docu- ment says. Among the items found were the remains of a 1917 steel helmet used by American troops, U.S. insignia buttons, a model 1917 U.S. trench knife, a metal cross arm of a U.S.- More than 6,000 Americans are buried at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in Seringes-et-Nesles, France. (ARMY NATIONAL GUARD/CAPT. JEAN KRATZER) issue stretcher, remnants of a round U.S. identification tag, and U.S.-is- sue .30-06 ammunition, dated 1917, that were still in their ammunition pouches, according to the document. The identification tag was frag- mented, corroded and illegible, but it was identifiable by its shape and the small hole for a chain. The soldier could not be identified, but French, British and American historians con- curred that the remains were those of an American soldier. The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains 23 World War I and World War II cemeteries around the world. Among the 30,973 servicemen buried in the commis- sion’s World War I cemeteries are 1,600 unknowns, according to a com- mission news release. The Oise-Aisne American Ceme- tery is in Seringes-et-Nesles, France, about 2 1/2 miles from the temporary cemetery where the U.S. soldier was buried. The June 7 burial ceremony will include a full military honors funeral procession and burial with a World War I-era 75 mm artillery sa- lute and historic World War I biplane flyover. Learn more about the commission here.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY June 1, 2023 | AUSA Extra 5 New graphic novel features WWI’s ‘greatest single hero’ M aj. Samuel Woodfill, who single-handedly took out several machine-gun nests with a rifle, a pistol and a pickax during the Meuse-Argonne offensive of World War I, is the subject of the latest graphic novel in the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army’s series on re- cipients of the nation’s highest award for valor. Medal of Honor: Samuel Woodfill tells of the Indiana native’s actions on Oct. 12, 1918, in Cunel, France. Gen. John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forc- es, once described Woodfill as “the greatest single hero in the American Forces.” “In the years following World War I, Samuel Woodfill was as famous as Alvin York, but today he has largely been forgotten,” said Joseph Craig, di- rector of AUSA’s Book Program. “I’m privileged to work with such a great creative team to help restore the spot- light on this remarkable soldier.” Medal of Honor: Samuel Woodfill is available here. AUSA launched its Medal of Honor graphic novel series in October 2018. This is the 18th nov- el in the series, with two more planned this year along with a paperback collec- tion to be released in the fall. The digital graph- ic novels are available here. Born in January 1883, Woodfill joined the Army when he turned 18 and served in the Philippines for three years before volunteering for duty in Alaska. After stints in Ken- tucky and Texas, Woodfill was sent to France in the fall of 1918, just as the Meuse-Argonne offensive was unfolding, according to DoD. On Oct. 12, 1918, then-1st Lt. Woodfill was leading his men from Company M, 60th Infantry, 5th Di- vision, just outside the town of Cu- nel when they came under heavy machine-gun fire. Woodfill moved out ahead of his soldiers toward a ma- chine-gun nest. When he got within 10 yards of the gun, it stopped fir- ing, and four enemy soldiers rushed toward Woodfill, according to his Medal of Honor citation. Woodfill shot three of them. When the fourth rushed Woodfill, the two struggled in hand-to-hand combat until Woodfill killed the enemy offi- cer with his pistol. The American soldiers continued their advance un- til another machine gun opened fire on them. “Calling on his men to follow, 1st Lt. Woodfill rushed ahead of his line in the face of heavy fire from the nest, and when several of the enemy ap- peared above the nest, he shot them, capturing three other members of the crew and silencing the gun,” accord- ing to the award citation. A few minutes later, Woodfill again charged a machine-gun position, this time killing five enemy with his rifle, according to the citation. “He then drew his revolver and started to jump into the pit, when two oth- er gunners only a few yards away turned their guns on him,” the cita- tion says. “Failing to kill them with his revolver, he grabbed a pick lying nearby and killed both of them.” Woodfill’s actions enabled his men to push on to their objective, but shrapnel and mustard gas would cut short his fight that day. He would spend 10 weeks in an Army hospital. On Feb. 9, 1919, Pershing present- ed Woodfill with the Medal of Honor. Two years later, in November 1921, Woodfill was among the eight highly decorated World War I veterans cho- sen by Pershing to escort the first unknown to his final resting place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Woodfill died Aug. 10, 1951. He was 68. He is buried at Arlington, near Pershing’s grave. Each AUSA graphic novel is cre- ated by a team of professional comic book veterans. The script for the graphic novel on Woodfill was writ- ten by Chuck Dixon, whose previous work includes Batman, The Punisher and The ’Nam. Pencils, inks and the cover were by Geof Isherwood, who has worked on The ’Nam, G.I. Joe and Conan the Barbarian; colors were by Peter Pantazis, who previously worked on Justice League, Superman and Black Panther; and the lettering was by Troy Peteri, who has worked on Spi- der-Man, Iron Man and X-Men. Calling on his men to follow, 1st Lt. Woodfill rushed ahead of his line in the face of heavy fire from the nest...www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY June 1, 2023 | AUSA Extra 7 Your AUSA membership provides access to savings on office supplies, mortgage assis- tance, retirement planning, fitness and more. (U.S. ARMY/SPC. ELIZABETH HACKBARTH) Sign up to learn more about AUSA member benefits I n response to requests for more in- formation about many of the ben- efit programs offered to members of the Association of the U.S. Army, I have set up one-hour webinars for three programs, with more to come in the future. To start, we will discuss Office Depot, Home for Heroes and Statera Retirement. Office Depot AUSA’s discount program at Office Depot/Office Max is very popular, but it’s important to know that the program is with the company’s business division, ODP Business Solutions. Members can download a discount card for in-store visits at www .ausa. org/ office, but the best savings are online. Many AUSA chapters and cor- porate members take advantage of Office Depot’s printing and binding discounts, which are also available online. Join our online seminar to learn how to take advantage of many ODP Business Solutions deals and meet our account management team, who will guide you through the process. There will also be a presentation on available savings from the company’s tech division. These seminars will take place on 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. June 15. Click here to register for the morning session and here for the afternoon webinar. Homes for Heroes Homes for Heroes offers all AUSA members—regardless of military service—exclusive access to a na- tionwide network of real estate and mortgage specialists committed to providing real savings. With more than 4,500 real estate and mortgage specialists nationwide, Homes for Heroes helps AUSA mem- bers save an average of $3,000 when you buy, sell or refinance a home or mortgage. Homes for Heroes donates a portion of its earnings to the Homes for He- roes Foundation and to AUSA. This helps AUSA support soldiers, their families, Army civilians, retired sol- diers and veterans with programs, products, resources and events. Sign up now for the Homes for He- roes seminars, scheduled for June 22 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Statera Retirement Planning for retirement is more challenging than ever. With longer life expectancies, unpredictable mar- kets and volatile inflation, having a sound plan is a must. Your AUSA membership provides access to Statera Retirement’s inno- vative SIM retirement method with member benefits including: • Complimentary, no-obligation, in-depth analysis using Statera’s pro- prietary SIM retirement method (not the same one offered to the public). • Pension analysis. • Social Security strategies. • Education for major financial de- cisions (estate planning, major pur- chases, long-term care planning and more). • Discounted wealth management fees for members. The Statera Retirement seminars will be held June 29 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. New fitness benefit My apologies to members who had trouble signing up for AUSA’s valuable fitness and gym benefit, Active&Fit Direct, last month. This program allows you to pay just $28 per month and get access to a variety of gyms including Gold’s Gym, LA Fitness, SNAP Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Workout Anytime and many more quality gyms, with the option to move easily from one to another. Visit www.ausa.org/gym to regis- ter now. Log in to the AUSA website, then register for the ChooseHealthy program, which includes the gym ac- cess. If you do not have login creden- tials to the AUSA website, contact the association’s member support of- fice at membersupport@ausa.org or 1-855-246-6269. If you have questions about these or any other AUSA member benefits, contact me at srubel@ausa.org. Susan Rubel is AUSA’s Association and Affinity Partnerships director. Member Benefitswww.ausa.org8 AUSA Extra | June 1, 2023 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter award recognizes outstanding ROTC cadet AUSA members honor Junior Paratroopers of the Year T he Association of the U.S. Ar- my’s Arsenal of Democracy chapter in Michigan recently honored Army ROTC cadet Sean Gor- don as the top cadet in the state with the chapter’s 2023 Saber Award. Gordon, who attended Michigan State University, was recognized for his academic standing and lead- ership roles. He is the third cadet from the “Spartan” battalion to re- ceive the award since it was estab- lished in 2013. “Being recognized by such a distin- guished organization as AUSA is a huge honor. Most importantly, it will serve as a reminder for me to learn from my noncommissioned officers, remain committed to improving the people around me and bettering the Army as a whole,” Gordon said in a news release from the university. During his time in ROTC, Gordon participated in the 2022 Sandhurst Competition at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, volunteered for a summer internship, commonly referred to as Cadet Troop Leading Training, with the 11th Air- borne Division in Alaska, and achieved the highest score on the Army Combat Fitness Test in his regiment of 600 ca- dets while attending Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After graduating with a major in fi- nance, Gordon was commissioned as an infantry second lieutenant and is moving to Fort Moore, Georgia. “Sean has been an exemplar of a student aspiring to become an Army officer,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Dumas, chairperson of Michigan State’s Mili- tary Science Department, according to the release. Gordon was inspired to join the Army ROTC program because of his mother’s experience as a Russian im- migrant. “That’s why I love America; it truly is the land of opportunity,” he said. “I chose to join the Army be- cause I want to protect American val- ues and ensure it remains a symbol of hope and opportunity to the world.” M embers of the Association of the U.S. Army’s Braxton Bragg chapter participated in the 82nd Airborne Division’s Ju- nior Paratrooper of the Year award ceremony May 23 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The ceremony at Fort Bragg, which on Friday will be redesignated as Fort Liberty, rec- ognizes children of soldiers in the division for their resiliency, contri- bution to the unit or community and extracurricular activities while navi- gating the challenges of military life. The 2023 Junior Paratroopers of the Year are Savanna Oen, repre- senting the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, and Anna-Marie Nolen, representing the 82nd Sustainment Brigade. They received gifts from Tawni Dixon, the AUSA chapter’s vice president of family support pro- grams, and retired Sgt. Maj. Ryan Sattelberg, vice president of NCO and soldier programs. “The price [of military] service is felt by everybody that calls a para- trooper a family member ... that po- tentially can go into harm’s way, and sometimes the ones that ask the most questions are our children,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, command- er of the 82nd Airborne Division, as reported by the Fayetteville Observer. Braxton Bragg Arsenal of Democracy AUSA Braxton Bragg chapter officers Taw- ni Dixon, left, and retired Sgt. Maj. Ryan Sattelberg, right, recognize Savanna Oen, center left, and Anna-Marie Nolen as Junior Paratroopers of the Year in a ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (AUSA PHOTO) Tammy Kielien, left, president of AUSA’s Arsenal of Democracy chapter in Michigan, and retired Lt. Col. Charles Cogger, right, the chapter’s executive vice president, present the chapter’s 2023 Saber Award to ROTC cadet Sean Gordon. (MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTO)Next >