Remembering: Lt. Col Herbert Mills, Jr.

Today we are honoring Lt. Col Herbert Mills, Jr. Herbert came to El Paso in 1939 from Sterling City and joined the Active 20-30 Club of El Paso #96 shortly thereafter. In 1940 he joined the Army and was stationed in Fort Bliss before being deployed to the European Theatre. While serving with the 33rd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division he was awarded a Silver Star and Bronze Star for his actions. On November 17th, 1944 near Scherpenseel and Hastenrath, Germany, Lt. Col Mills led his task force over difficult terrain, across dense minefields and through devastating enemy fire to secure a vital objective. On the initial day of the assault, one of his tanks was hit blocking the advance of the column through a lane cleared of mines. Lieutenant Colonel Mills dismounted from his tank, personally directed engineers in clearing another lane, and led his force through the minefield. While reorganizing his position, a shell struck within a few feet of him, causing injury to his right leg. Though in much pain, he refused medical aid and continued his reconnaissance on foot to improve his positions. Although he lost all officers of his medium tank companies and thirty-three tanks, Lieutenant Colonel Mills kept his force effectively organized and, in the face of enemy opposition, captured his objective without infantry support. While Lieutenant Colonel Mills was in the process of communicating with higher headquarters to report that his mission was accomplished, a shell struck the building above his tank, fatally wounding him. For his actions he was awarded the army’s second-highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross. He was survived by his wife Claire Mills and his two year old son Herbert Mills III.

Members from New Mexico in WWII

To kick off the week of Memorial Day, we would like to take today to remember the Active 20-30 members from New Mexico who lost their lives during WWII. While it may seem odd to focus on the state instead of a club or an individual, their stories are tragically similar. All of these men were also members of various units of the New Mexico National Guard and were inducted into federal service as The 200th Coast Artillery Regiment on January 6th, 1941, for one year of active duty training. They were chosen for an assignment in the Philippines over a regiment from Arkansas because of the fluency in Spanish and arrived in Luzon in September of 1941.

On December 8th, 1941, a mere 10 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese bombers appeared over the horizon in the Philippines. After 3 months of fierce fighting, the 76,000 starving and sick American and Filipino defenders in Bataan surrendered on April 9, 1942. While they managed to survive the infamous Bataan Death March on which 7,000–10,000 POWs died or were murdered, all but one were unable to survive their internment at the various POW camps. The lone survivor was killed when the ship taking him to Japan for interrogation was sunk in the Pacific. Some only lasted a few weeks while others lasted years but their names and stories are engraved on twelve granite columns at Bataan Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Those brave men were:
• Pfc. Claude Fleming, Carlsbad #202 – 6/10/1942
• 1SG George Moore, Artesia #231 – 5/20/1942
• Maj. Richard Riley, Albuquerque #103 – 11/13/1942
• Capt. Karl Schroeder, Clovis #225 – 1/19/1945
• Capt. John Beall, Clovis #225 – 2/8/1945
• Sgt. John Shields, Jr., Clovis #225 – 11/24/1942

Thank you for your service.

Keith H Hall’s 1954 Speech

The gentleman on the right (in the white shirt) is Keith H Hall. He was a President of the Active Club of Sacramento in 1953. The next year, 1954, he participated in the Public Speaking Contest for his district but did not win. He did, however, get elected as Lieutenant Governor for District 6.

One of our objectives is leadership, and what better way to work on that then through self development with Public Speaking. It seems that each year, there was a list of topics they could pick from, and then deliver in a speech contest. Below is the speech that Mr. Hall gave during the District 6 Convention.

 

 

Topic Sentence:
Active International in order to succeed in its conquest for permanent growth and expansion needs a powerful secret weapon.

Body:
If Active Club is to achieve its deserved place in the orbit of other great international service clubs, we had better stop right here and now and analyze our present position and design a plan to ensure that we arrive at our destination.

The course we are now following is apparent. The stronger clubs are increasing our membership by chartering new clubs, but the weaker clubs are offsetting this growth by losing members faster than their big brothers can charter. Now the conclusion to this cycle is obvious. But this need not be.

No solvent establishment sets its sights on a single period, but rather aims at the horizon of the years ahead. That is why I suggest that the International resolve itself to a long range, three-year plan.

The first (1) year dedicated to the bolstering of the membership of the existing clubs.

The second (2) to the exploiting of the service and welfare to the communities of those same existing clubs.

The third (3) to the expanding of Active International to the far corners of our unlimited boundaries.

Now let’s take a look at these yearly plans separately. First, I say we must strengthen our existing clubs. From the reports I have seen there are very few clubs that have such enormous memberships that it renders them unwieldy. But rather I would say that the truth is just about the opposite. If we are to succeed in adding more stories to our International edifice, it might be wise to check our foundations first. Some of it may be in need of repairs by now.

A leaning tower of Active Clubs, might provide a curious interest to a touring prospective member but to what purpose could it serve him? Once we are sure that we have our foundations in good order, and enough reinforcing steel, the sky’s the limit.

Now after we have accomplished our first goal we can turn confidently to the next. The purpose of the 2nd year is to harness this new-found energy and direct it to the main objectives for the welfare of its community and the progress of its members. The staging of local and international welfare projects will sink our roots deeper in those same existing communities. Then and only after we have accomplished our first 2 goals do we turn our sights to the expanding of ideas to the new surrounding communities.

Then we shall find that with this added manpower and new-born energy we can and will charter bigger and stronger clubs. For if we build carefully, slowly, and painstakingly we will have found our secret weapon for success.

Then in the using of this modern weapon in these modern times, we will no longer just be ACTIVE but radioactive. And in a correct, logical sequence we shall set off a contagious chain reaction, that will discharge a perpetual energy in forms of enthusiasm, progress, and goodwill.

And we shall let the “Geiger counters” of public opinion, our own progress, growth and expansion be the measurer of our success.

I thank you.

(Thank you to the family of Keith H Hall for the donated items).

You can read about his life here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fair-oaks-ca/keith-hall-5358104

Meet Past Active: Jim Vogt

Past President of Healdsburg #205, California

In 2011, Dan Chapin, who was the current president of Healdsburg #205 shared about sitting down with gentleman turning 100. They had something in common to talk about – Active 20-30.

Dan told us, “I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to sit down with him for an interview that the local online news folks organized. It was one of the most amazing life experiences and for a guy who re-chartered an old club I never imagined this kind of thing would happen.”

Among the stories Jim Vogt passed along, he also gave Dan his 1947 Past Active card.
You can read the published article from The Healdsburg Patch and watch a few videos of Dan and Jim’s day together, their common interests and how the club has changed with time.

Sadly, Jim passed away the following year on May 4, 2012. (see obituary)

I invite you all to connect with past actives – both recent and not-so-recent times. Share with us stories you’ve heard and mementos you’ve seen that help us understand our history together.

Just like the “legacy stories” I share regarding 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generational Active members, I would like to start a series on the Past Actives and their stories. Please contact me (I would love to recognize and feature your history) – mchlspil@gmail.com

Remembering our 20-30 Founder: Paul Claiborne

(1902-1969)

Sacramento Bee Newspaper, 15 April 1969

AUBURN—Masonic funeral services will be held at 2 PM tomorrow in the Chapel of the Hills for Paul Claiborne Sr., 67, founder of the 20-30 International and longtime business and civic leader of Placer County. A native of Gas City, IN, he died Sunday after a heart attack at home. He had been a resident of California for 65 years and moved to Auburn from Sacramento in 1926.

His widow yesterday received a telegram from President Richard Nixon, a member of the 20-30 Club in California, expressing regret. The telegram stated: “Pat and I were distressed to hear of Paul’s untimely death. We have lost a dear, old friend and no words could convey how deeply he will be missed. Please know that our thoughts are with you. We pray that God may bless and strengthen you through this sad and lonely time.”

Claiborne, who was president and general manager of the Placer Savings and Loan Association which he founded in 1947, held memberships in the Auburn Rotary Club, Yreka Lodge No. 16, F and AM, Delta Chapter No. 27 Royal Order of Masons, Auburn Commandery Order of Knights Templar, Ben Ali Shrine Temple, Sacramento Court No. 119, Royal Order of Jesters, Placer Shrine Club of Auburn, Sacramento Consistory of Scottish Rights Masons, Auburn Elks, Auburn Dam Committee, Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce, Tahoe Club of Auburn, Sierra View Country Club of Roseville, Placer County Board of Realtors, Grandfathers Club of Sacramento, and Eagles Lodge of Auburn.

He was a former member of the Placer County Republicans Central Committee, past president of the Tahoe Council of the Auburn Area Boy Scouts, a former member of the Auburn City Planning Commission and the Auburn Union Elementary School Board, and past president of the Golden Chain Council.

He is survived by his widow, Mary; son, Paul Jr. of Auburn; daughters, Merrilee Clark of Auburn and Joycelyn Aronson of Cupertino, Santa Clara County; brothers, Carl of Carmichael, Lloyd of Roseville, and Burneth of Southgate, Los Angeles County; sisters, Ruth Hunter and Erma Piches, both of Roseville, Vieva Nichols of Orangevale and Mrs. Dale Foster of Fountain City, TN; and eight grandchildren.

The family requests that any remembrance be sent to the 20-30 Club, Project Deaf or the Rotary Foundation.