THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9604300366
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: MY TURN
SOURCE: BY STEVE MIGITZ
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The Military Order of the Purple Heart U.S.A. is the only veterans' organization chartered by Congress exclusively for combat-wounded veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart.
They parachuted into France, stormed the beaches on bloody Omaha in Normandy, sailed and island-hopped the South Pacific, battled in the frozen Chosin in Korea and trod the hills and the rice paddies of Vietnam.
And all were wounded in the line of duty.
The South Hampton Roads Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 136 offers a full membership only to holders of the Purple Heart Medal.
The local group was chartered in March 1992. The goals are to promote patriotism and excellence in the community, and to establish a fraternal relationship for veterans wounded in combat.
Members have served in every branch of the military. They have fought in conflicts ranging from World War II to Vietnam.
There are more exclusive military organizations, but the Purple Heart's membership criteria sets it apart.
Every member of our organization is a combat veteran who has been wounded at least once in the line of duty.
And it makes for a unique comradeship: We all have a common experience that bridges differences in age and background.
The group is tightly knit despite the span of time. It doesn't make any difference which war. Combat is combat. We get together and have a ball.
The chapter is named for Michael E. Hopkins, who attended school in Norfolk and was killed on July 4, 1966, in Vietnam. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously, the second-highest decoration of our country for action above and beyond the call of duty.
``I feel very proud that the chapter was named in my son's honor'' said Hopkins' mother, Mary Clark of Virginia Beach. ``I'm hoping to see it grow and expand as more Purple Hearters learn that our chapter exists.''
Purple Heart veterans are not that easy to locate.
Members engage in grass-roots recruiting. We spread the word at VA hospitals and at other meetings. Officers slip applications under the windshield wipers of cars that have Purple Heart license plates.
At monthly meetings, we discuss plans for getting involved in the community. We have established a grant program for outstanding junior ROTC students. And like other veterans' groups, the Military Order of the Purple Heart educates veterans about benefits and programs open to them.
Members discuss their experiences, too, but don't dwell on the wounds. Gather all these guys together and it's kind of like a living military history book.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at 250 Jersey Avenue in Virginia Beach.
For more information, or to become a member, call Cmdr. Steve Migitz at 490-2172. Dues are only $15 a year and include a subscription to Purple Heart Magazine. MEMO: Steve Migitz, 76, is commander of the local Military Order of the Purple
Heart Chapter 136.
by CNB