The White Falcon - 19.02.1955, Blaðsíða 2

Page 2
TIIE WHITE FALCON
Saturday, February 19, 1955
THE WHITE FALCON
Volume 5 Number 4
HEADQUARTERS, ICELAND DEFENSE FORCE
Brig Gen Donald R. Hutchinson, USAF
Joint Commander
The WHITE FALCON is an official Armed Forces newspaper
published bi-weekly at Keflavik Airport, Iceland, by and for the Army,
Navy and Air Force personnel of the Iceland Defense Force. The
WHITE FALCON receives AFPS material. AFPS material appear-
ing herein will not be reprinted without written permission of the
Armed Forces Press Service, 641 Washington Street, New York 14,
N. Y. Views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those
of the Department of Defense.
Deadline for copy: 1200 hours Tuesday. Telephone number:
Ext. 20-W.
Supervising Officer ........... Lt. John F. Williams, USA.
Staff
Editor ................................ Sgt Gene Hardy.
Staff Writers .... Pfc Marvin Abrams, Army; A/lc Gerald R.
McFadden, Air Force.
Art Editor .............................. DM1 D. Baber.
Staff Photographer ................... Sfc Earl Grathwohl
Isafoldarprentsmlflja h.f.
Peacetime Prestige Is Earned
“First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.”
Light-Horse Harry Lee, the father of Robert E. Lee,
spoke those words in Congress shortly after the death of
George Washington. It was a unique tribute; for a military
man is not valued as highly in time of peace as he is in
wartime.
A great soldier, Washington was first of all a great
citizen. A passionate love for the nation he helped create
always guided his life.
He was straight-forward and honest. His strong char-
acter and concern for other people—bolstered by his burn-
ing patriotism—held together his tattered volunteers at
Valley Forge.
His zeal for the best interests of his country made him
shun the crown offered him after the Revolution.
Prestige and respect for the military man won’t result
from higher pay, new uniforms or better housing alone—
although these things will help. The American serviceman
will gain prestige—real prestige—by striving to become a
better American.
As military men, we should strive to be like Washing-
ton ; superb citizens, honest and direct, and dedicated to the
service of our country. Our own personal worth as military
men and Americans will make up “first in the hearts of
our countrymen.”
Some Taxpayers Get Small Break
As Result of Tax Law Revisions
(This is the second in a series of articles on Federal income tax.)
When Congress changed the Federal income tax laws
in 1954. it not only added a month to the final date for
filing, it also added several new terms to the income tax
jargon. Included in this is a paragraph which helps tax-
payers who have to pay someone to take care of their
children while they are working.
Although it doesn’t apply to most service personnel, a
new classification has been addedv
to the income tax code. This is
termed “surviving’ spouse” as ap-
plied to a widow or widower who
maintains a home for at least one
child who is termed a dependent.
The status is available for two
taxable years following the death
of the mate. For income tax pur-
poses the survivor can file a joint
tax return for both persons, pro-
viding such a return would have
been allowed during the year in
which the death occurred.
Under the tax code any per-
son who qualifies as the “head
of a household” can file an in-
come tax return under a special
rate schedule set up for such
persons.
The head of a household is de-
scribed as any unmarried (or le-
gally separated) person who does
not claim the title of surviving
spouse, but who maintains as his
home a residence for which he
furnishes more than one-half the-
cost of maintenance and has as a
member of the household any per-
son who qualifies as a dependent
such as an unmarried child,
grandchild, stepchild or parent.
The deadline for filing the
1954 income tax return is April
15—but there is an exception
which applies particularly well
to service people.
This provides that U.S. citizens
who are residing or traveling out-
side the continental limits of the
U.S., District of Columbia, Alaska
or Hawaii on Apr. 15 are given
an extension to June 15 if ap-
plied for. But there is one catch—
an interest rate of six percent per
year on the unpaid tax must be
paid from the original due date,
which would be Apr. 15. The ap-
plication for extension must be
made to the director of the district
in which the return is filed.
Also, according to the code,
servicemen who return from a
combat zone are not required to
file an income tax return im-
mediately, but are obligated to
do so within 180 days after re-
turning to the United States or
any other area covered by the
income tax laws.
Postoffice Pup is Coffee Quaffer
A mongrel brown-and-white pup, who says “please”,
drinks coffee and chews gum is the pride and joy of per-
sonnel at the U. S. Postoffice at Keflavik Airport.
Rescue Efforts Cited
By British Legation
Iceland Defense Force personnel
who took part in the recent search
for foundered trawlers and possi-
ble survivors in the stormy sea
North of Iceland were commended
for their efforts this week in a
letter from the British Legation
in Reykjavik.
The letter, from Mr. David
Hough, British Consul, was sent
to Brigadier General Donald R.
Hutchinson, IDF Commander.
“England, and in particular the
port of Hull, suffered a tragic
loss in the disappearance of the
two Hull trawlers LORELLA and
RODERIGO,” the letter said.
“Our only consolation in these
sad events was the readiness and
persistence with which your pi-
lots, together with the Iceland-
ers, searched and continued to
search even after all normal ex-
pectation of success had vanished.
“I should be grateful if you
would convey to the men under
your command who participated
in this attempt my sincerest
thanks for their gallant efforts.”
The two vessels and their entire
crews have now been given up as
lost.
Keflavik Wives
Visit Station TFK
The newly elected Officer's of
the Wives’ Club at Keflavik Air-
port were interviewed recently
over AFRS station TFK.
Mrs. Max Van Benthuysen, new
President, lead off the informal
“Kaffee Klatch” morning radio
program by introducing the Club
Secretary, Mrs Jackson Burns, and
Mrs George C. Madden, Treasurer.
MSgt Gordon Loud, station an-
nouncer, covered all of the cur-
rent Women’s Club activities on
the morning program, from the
hospitality activities for newly-
arrived Officers wives, and the
Grey Ladies program at th§
1400th USAF Hospital and Kin-
dergarten activities, to the more
than $2000 that has been raised
by the Base Thrift Shop since
opening last July.
Among purchases made from
the funds derived from Thrift
Shop sales were five radios for
Hospital wards, free gift wrap-
ping of Christmas packages for
airmen and officers before the
holidays, and purchase of table
cloths for the hospital mess.
The dog’s name is Miss Homer.
The identity of her ancestors is a
mystery. So is the origin of how
she derived the name Miss Homer.
There is even doubt as to exactly
how she turned up at this end
of APO 81.
But, while Miss Homer’s past
may be up in the air, there is
one thing all the men working
with Detachment 6 of the 7th
Postal Squadron at Keflavik are
in unanimous agreement on;
Miss Homer likes coffee.
As soon as the coffee pot starts
to boil in the morning, Miss Homer
takes up a position nearby. If it
appears she is being ignored when
the brew is passed out, she lets
out a mournful cry. When that
cry is coupled with an expres-
sionless, sad-eyed facial look, the
postal workers are conviced that
she is saying “please” using her
best dog diction. If this trick
fails, and it seldom does, she re-
torts with a few piercing barks.
Oh, yes, we almost forgot. She
takes cream and sugar.
Another pastime of Miss Hom-
er’s is gum chewing. In fact, she
devours almost anything dropped
on the floor. One day a postoffice
visitor was a little slow about
picking up a MPC he had drop-
ped. As a result, the Finance
office has one less certificate to
redeem.
But there is a sad day coming
and it is not too far off. Miss
Homer will soon be rotating to the
states along with her self-appoint-
ed guardian, A/3C Gerald W.
Hegwood.
Chaplain’s Column
By Father Joseph C. Basovsky
Life cannot be lived spiritually
without grace. Prayer is the great
source of grace. Therefore, prayer
is of the utmost importance to
every person under God’s heaven..
The greatest thing of all in life
is not the knowledge*»of great
truth or principles but a realiza-
tion of them. One realizes a prin-
ciple only when he acts on what
he knows. Knowledge can be had
by study. Realization can be had
only through prayer and the grace
of God. Study can lead to a know-
ledge of what Christ taught.
Prayer transforms that knowledge
into daily action according to-
Christ’s teachings. Christ showed
the necessity of prayer by His
own example. He often stole away
at night into the mountains to-
pray. Before His great miracles.
He lifted up His heart in prayer.
Before and during His suffering,
prayer was His comfort and
strength. The Son of God was a
man of prayer.
What is the test of whether or
not I am a man of prayer? It
can be answered by asking two
other questions of yourself, and
giving an honest answer. In your
state of life do YOU: 1) put the
whole time in prayer that your
state of life requires; 2) while
you are putting in time do you
make an honest and constant ef-
fort to pray well? If you can
answer in the affirmative, then
you are a man or woman of
prayer. In response to the second
question, the important work is
“effort.” Effort does not neces-
sarily spell success. There can be
effort when there is weariness.
There can be effort when the mind
is tormented by distractions or
weighed down with worries. There
can be effort when desolation
sears the soul. Thanks be to God
that He looks not at our hands
and what we give at our hearts
and what we “try” to give.
In the meantime, if you are in
the Post Office mailing packages
or letters, ask to see Miss Homer
and she will come running.
Father Hacking To
Speak at Keflavik
At its next meeting, Sunday, 27
February, 1955, the Holy Name
Society of Keflavik Airport will
have as its guest speaker the
Reverend Father Hacking, Assis-
tant Pastor of the Reykjavik
Catholic Cathedral.
Father Hacking will speak on
“The History of Churches in Ice-
land.”
Sc
eruiceA
Protestant Chaplains: James R. Woodruff and Arthur W. Wingo.
Catholic Chaplain: Father Joseph C. Basovsky.
PROTESTANT SERVICES
SUNDAY: 0900—Holy Communion. 0945—Sunday School (An-
nex). 1100—Worship Service. 1100—Christian Science Service (An-
nex). 1900—Evening Service. Lutheran Communion 3rd Sunday each
month—1500.
MONDAY: 1900—Bible Study (Office).
WEDNESDAY: 1900—Evening Services.
THURSDAY: 1915—Choir Rehearsal.
JEWISH SERVICES
FRIDAY: Worship 1930 (Annex).
LDS (MORMON) SERVICES
SUNDAY: Services—1500 (Annex).
MONDAY: Services—2000 (Annex).
WEDNESDAY: Services—1900 (Annex).
CATHOLIC SERVICES
SUNDAY: Masses: 0800, 1000, 1200.
WEEKDAY: Monday thru Friday 1715. Saturday 0700.
CONFESSIONS: DAILY—Before Mass. Saturday 1830.
MONDAY: Novena—1900.
FRIDAY: Choir Rehearsal—1930.