THE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATIONTHE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATION
JULY 1967 TO JULY
1968
First National Meeting held at
Richards/Gebaur Air Force Base, Kansas City, Missouri on August 12, 1967. The following
"National Officers" were elected and took office immediately:
Officers: President - Julius Orsak
1st Vice - James Nelms
2nd Vice - Thomas McCarbrey
3rd Vice - Willie Clifton
Treasurer - Clifford Monroe
Note: These were the first REA
Officers elected from the "National Membership" rather than the "Chapter 1
membership." The election served to officially separate the records of REA and
Chapter 1. Some National matters continued to be discussed in subsequent Chapter 1
meetings. It appears that the only real National business conducted by Chapter 1 was the
bestowal of the first life membership on WWII Medal of Honor recipient William J. Crawford
(M/Sgt USA, Ret.), who received gold card #1 on January 17, 1968. Even though Chapter 1
and REA officially became separate entities at the National Convention, they continued to
coexist in Colorado Springs until early 1982 when National Headquarters moved to Aurora,
Colorado.
Sept 20, 1967 A new reproduction
machine was purchased for $45, of which Chapter 1 paid one-half and National REA paid
one-half
November 15, 1967 U. S. Rep Frank
Evans was contacted about a REA National Charter. He has still not drafted or submitted
the Bill.
December 20, President Dean Sorell
announced that Boy Scout Troop 100 had grown from 19 to 44 boys in the 10 months that REA
had been its sponsor.
March 20, 1968 – President
Sorell announced that all REA Chapters had accepted the purposed design for chapter flags.
Jun 19, 1968 Mr. Monroe and Mr. Sapp
were still looking for suitable property to purchase for Chapter 1.