Branch History

Mt. Rainier Fleet Reserve Association Branch 104 was chartered on 28 July 1947 in Tacoma, WA. Serves the shipmates that primarily live in South King County and the greater Tacoma area.

Branch 104 has also had a long history for serving the NW Region and the FRA as a whole.

In 2010, Branch 104 moved its base of operations to the Puyallup VFW Post hall after meeting at the South Tacoma Parks Department Community Center. 2010 also saw the merger with Olympia Branch #191.

Congratulations to our FRA Essay contest winners.

For those of you who don’t know, there is an annual essay contest for 7th through 12th graders that awards branch, regional and national prizes with the Grand Prize of $5.000! Here are our winners:

7th Grade Violet Novak, Kopachuck Middle School – First Place Regional Winner. Romin A. Millan, Cedarcrest Middle School. JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, Ferruci Middle School.

9th Grade Alexys Vaughn, Lincoln High School – First Place Regional Winner. Avery Clark, Bellamine Prep. Kailiana Querido, Lincoln High School.

10th Grade Jordin Smith, Lincoln High School –First Place Regional Winner. Audery Jenkins, Lincoln High School. Isabella Marie Stark, Lincoln High School.

11th Grade Amara Masters, Lincoln High School – Third Place Regional Winner. Nancy Molinero Dolores, Lincoln High School. Lani Saili, Lincoln High School.

12th Grade Sophia Apostolides, Bethel High School – Third Place Regional Winner Andrew Michael Robles, Lincoln High School Amy Hernandez, Lincoln High School

The Blue Water Navy (BWN)

Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (PL 116-23) extended the presumption of herbicide exposure, such as Agent Orange, to Veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975.

https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/blue-water-navy.asp

Memorial Day Remembrance

The annual Memorial Day Observation, co-sponsored by VFW Post 2224 and the City of Puyallup, was held at Pioneer Park Pavilion. This popular event honoring those who have served our country included music by the Five Star Brass Quintet, the US Navy Band Northwest and the Clan Gordon Pipe Band.

Long Term Shipmate Hits 60 Year Mark

John Johnson, Nahum Doskow and Jim Jones (L to R). Branch 104 presented Shipmate Doskow with his 60 year pin and certificate recently. Shipmate Rex Faubion was on the camera.

Congratulations Shipmate "Dos" and thank you for all your years of service.

Congratulations To Our Long Term Shipmates

In recognition of their membership longevity these shipmates were awarded special pins and certificates.

Left to right, CTOC Melvin Williamson (40 years), HMC James Howard (40 years), TM2 Kenneth Walling (40 years). Not pictured...James Howard (40 years) and Cecil E. Bruce (60 years)

Latest Award For a Long Term Shipmate

Going the distance to make sure Shipmates are recognized. Four Shipmates made the trek from Puyallup to Centralia, WA on 20 June. Shipmate Robert Simesen was presented with certificate and pin for 40 years continuous service in the FRA. Northwest Region VP Mark Thompson made the presentation. Also recognized was Shipmate Rex Faubion, 25 years, and Shipmate Len Barrett, 20 years.

Picture attached, left to right: Rex Faubion, Len Barrett, Mark Thompson, Robert Simesen, and Tom Shriver.

The Branch hosted bingo day at the Washington State Soldiers Home

Thanks to our shipmates who came out to help make the quarterly bingo day fun for residents of the Soldiers Home. Lead by bingo caller extraordinaire Len the gang responded quickly to the call, “BINGO”, as the residents proudly announced their claims.

The Washington Soldiers Home and Colony, located on 181 acres in the beautiful Puyallup Valley near Orting, serves residents needing skilled-nursing care. Established in 1891, this was the first of three homes built for Washington state veterans. This is a heartwarming experience and you are encouraged to join us next time (TBA).

Next visit for BINGO will be December 29th.

So You Want One Of Those Neat FRA Hats...

By going to the MORE tool bar at the top of this page you can find your way to the hat order form. Click and follow the path. You will see a pop up box that ask if you want to open, click open. Another box might pop up, click allow. Word will open, before printing click enable editing on the top yellow tool bar. You are now ready to print.

Sorry for the extra steps...the company that makes the hats does not have its own web site so we are working with an old form.