ORIGINS OF A SQUARE HEROES FOUNDATION APPROACH TO OUTREACH
PROVIDING OUTREACH SERVICES FOR THE MARTINEZ, CA VA HOSPITAL
Working with VA Volunteer Services of Northern California - in 2013 ASHF "adopted" the Martinez California VA rehabilitation and extended care hospital. We provide and maintain computer stations, Internet / Wifi access through a Comcast account we cover the cost of, offer a patient library area and deliver gifts on Christmas morning to every patient in the hospital. Covid restrictions have temporarily affected some of our outreach, but we will soon be back with our full service to the hospital.
ASHF has reached out to companies and individuals to offer donations for wheelchair accessible tables, computers, monitors, bookshelves and a constant stream of books for the patients to enjoy during their lengthy and difficult recoveries. We seek your help with these needed efforts.
ASHF Photo Archives
Unrestored 1944 drawing made by ASHF Board member Sid Bolin while flying a mission at his Left Gunner B-29 position
Sid Bolin Collection ASHF Photo Archives
OUTREACH
We work with families identifying photos and restoring their critical records of personal histories before they are lost forever. Today's technology can allow the simplest scanner and current software to digitally preserve and restore documents and photos. Below are examples of what ASHF Board members and ASHF volunteers are able to do to insure these invaluable items can be shared indefinitely.
OUTREACH SERVICE PROVIDED TO
THE PATHWAY HOME
Pratt Kansas Tribune May 31, 2014:
Mark Maloy, President of A Squares Heroes Foundation, presented an extremely rare color picture of “Waddys Wagon” tail number A Box 5, to the B-29 Museum. Crew member Paul Garrision’s family made the donation in his honor. The B-29 tail number was a letter followed by a square box and a number. No matter what the men could remember after 70 years, they all remembered their plane tail number.
Full article: http://www.pratttribune.com/article/20140531/news/140539917/?Start=1
Christmas card/note created by a 5th grader included in the 2018 gift bags
PROVIDING RESEARCH & ASSISTING IN THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIES
ASHF began as a result of research and discoveries regarding stories involving the crew of a B-29. Because of that effort, we were able to expand our capabilities and continue our mission with the preservation and sharing of personal histories.
Our motto in this work is: "Remembering Those Who Serve"
Our website "Tributes", "Archive" and video collection offer the results of some of this work as it grows. They include examples of the varied crews, individuals and service branches we honor. Our preservation outreach has sometimes provided unique and important discoveries of information and photos the families we work with have. ASHF works to get these materials to where they need to be - for example:
Below are ASHF Board members Mark Maloy and WWII B-29 gunner Jean Allen presenting rare photographs to the B-29 Museum at Pratt, KS in 2014.
Jean Allen flew with the alternate crew of the B-29 "Waddy's Wagon" in WWII which we were honoring that day by facilitating photo restorations and donation from a "Waddy's Wagon" crew family to the new museum. The crew had trained at that base in 1944 where the museum now is.
(see photos and news article below)
Outreach efforts by A Square Heroes Foundation are modeled on the patriotism, spirit and duty the remarkable employees at Guaranty Trust Company displayed in WWII.
In the late 1930's John Garvin, who would become the "Sky-Scrapper" Air Commander in WWII, worked for The Guaranty Trust Bank in New York City while he attended NYU at night. Working as a bank clerk and coupon clipper, he made an indelible impression on his employers when he left the bank for Army service in 1940. He stayed in contact with his friends and supervisors.
After Pearl Harbor, Guaranty Trust employees became very active in successful war bond drives. The bank established a "War Effort Committee" which assigned groups of employees with specific tasks to assist efforts needed by services like the Red Cross. Employees (all women) came to work before their shift or stayed late after their normal hours to make surgical dressings, knit blankets, sweaters and socks. They sought donations of books and magazines for hospitals and service centers for the soldiers to read. Their efforts were recognized by the many services and military branches they assisted.
After a spectacular Guaranty Trust staff war bonds drive in mid 1944, the War Finance Committee of the Treasury Dept. worked with the bank to use the bond funds to "buy" a B-29 and recognized it as being paid for by the employees of Guaranty Trust Company. Their former employee, who was now USAAF Pilot Lt. John Garvin, became the proud Air Commander of that B-29 designated as being bought by the bank employee efforts. A special decal noting the source of funds used to buy the B-29 was created and placed on the plane. (see photos above)
The bank also held a contest to name the B-29. Bank accounts for the crew were opened with an initial $15.00 deposited in each. John Garvin wrote updates to the bank for its newsletter from Saipan. That soon became awkward given news censorship of the B-29 operations and what was to happen to the first "Sky-Scrapper". It was destroyed during a base attack on Saipan three weeks after arriving on the war front. It never flew a mission. (see "Sky-Scrapper" in the Tributes section for the full story)
Though the two "Sky-Scrapper's" that would replace it in the months ahead didn't have that unique Treasury Dept. decal, the bank and its employees followed John Garvin and his crew in their newsletters throughout the war and even in a mention as late as 1963!
A SQUARE HEROES FOUNDATION VET PATIENT GIFT PROJECT FOR THE MARTINEZ VA HOSPITAL A GIFT BAG FOR EVERY HOSPITALIZED VET ON CHRISTMAS MORNING SINCE 2016!
In early 2017, A Square Heroes Foundation began outreach efforts with The Pathway Home.
Since opening in 2008, 450 veterans, with a range of issues including post-traumatic stress and traumatic-brain injury, had received in-resident care for their challenges. A Square Heroes Foundation sponsored and maintained a popular computer station for the post 9/11 veterans to access during their treatments. It offered a full array of software for projects. There were more outreach efforts with this non profit healing center planned for the summer of 2018.
On March 9, 2018 a former veteran patient shot and killed Executive Director Christine Loeber, Dr. Jennifer Gonzales Shushereba and Dr. Jennifer Golick before taking his own life at the facility. After the tragedy, The Pathway Home closed permanently. The Martinez VA Hospital, where A Square Heroes Foundation has provided outreach since 2013, has taken on offering many of the successful treatments begun at The Pathway Home.
3 computer stations normally in operation at the Martinez VA hospital. The stations are dedicated to military service personnel honoring their duty and sacrifice. ASHF Photo Archives
Photos from Bob Maloy & John Garvin Collections ASHF Photo Archives
These brave and selfless women will not be forgotten. They dedicated their careers to helping veterans in need and lost their lives in that noble effort. This horrible event must strengthen the resolve to continue developing treatments, fund programs and provide veterans with the necessary tools and opportunities to overcome the traumas they endured serving this country.
A Square Heroes Foundation is honored to have been able to work with The Pathway Home and these heroic professionals.
Gift bags containing warm jackets and vests, body/hair wash and dental care items being filled by volunteers at MBH Architects. The bags are delivered to the inpatient vets on Christmas morning. Donate to the 2022 gift project through our donate tab!
Charles Beckman Library Area Created By ASHF at the Martinez VA CLC unit. ASHF Photo Archives
Restored drawing Sid Bolin Collection ASHF Photo Archives
John Garvin Collection ASHF Photo Archives
February 10, 2017 The Pathway Home Executive Director, Christine Loeber with ASHF President, Mark Maloy next to the ASHF sponsored computer station installed that day.
ASHF has a proven track record of outreach assistance. We need the help of individuals and companies to continue these efforts. Let us assist you, or your employer, with direct to the vets donations, sponsorships and volunteer opportunities. We can show you lasting ways to honor your loved ones who served, or are now active in the military.
Our Foundation welcomes your tax deductible donations to ASHF to cover the basic expenses this work demands.
Contact us at:
A Square Heroes Foundation
1430 Bel Air Drive #303
Concord, CA 94521