Welcome to the Narrows Bridge VFW Post 10018

Canteen Hours:

Monday – Thursday Noon – 8:00 PM (subject to change)

Friday-Saturday Noon – 8:00 PM (subject to change)

Sunday Noon – 8:00

Click on the CALENDAR link to view specific events

Post meetings – First Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM

Post Auxiliary meetings – First Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM

4741 N. Baltimore St.

Tacoma, WA 98407

(253) 759-0817

For general inquiries and questions, email [email protected]

BSA Troop 224 Eagle Service Project

BSA Troop 224 Eagle Service Project

Over the weekend of August 3-5, there was a lot of activity in the north parking lot. Last year the House Committee determined that the handicapped ramp was unsafe and needed to be repaired. In February we reached out to Troop 224 from Mason United Methodist Church to see if they had an Eagle candidate in search for a service project opportunity.

After several meetings and phone calls, the project took place from Saturday August 3rd through Monday August 4th. The Scouts replaced the unsafe decking, replaced the rusted anchors, and replaced warped railings.

THANK YOU BSA TROOP 224!

VFW National Day of Service

The Narrows Bridge Post participated in the VFW National Day of Service by upgrading Baltimore Park (across the street, behind the Senior Center) by refreshing the mulch around the trees and along the path. Tacoma Metro Parks is provided all materials and tools. 13 members volunteered for this project (8 from the Post and 5 from the Auxiliary). We spread approximately 40 yards of mulch in a little over two hours! Thank you for supporting the Post in this National event!

April 2024 E-Newsletter

April 2024 E-Newsletter

Narrows Bridge VFW Post 10018

4741 N. Baltimore St.

Tacoma, WA  98407

(253) 759-0817


Elections for Post Officers

Elections were held at the April 3rd meeting. Members that were elected to leadership positions are:

  • Post Commander Juanita Garcia
  • Duties: Preside over all meetings of the Post. Insist that all Post activities are conducted in accordance with current laws. Approve disbursement of Post funds. Assure the Post is represented at all District Conventions and County Council meetings. Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
  • Senior Vice Commander Bob Wangen
  • Duties: Preside in the absence of the Commander. Oversee the Membership program of the Post, and the Buddy Poppy program,
  • Junior Vice Commander Jason Fox
  • Duties: Preside in the absence of the Commander and Sr Vice Commander. Oversee the Voice of Democracy program.
  • Quartermaster David Cratsenberg
  • Duties: Collect all monies due the Post. Accountable Officer of the Post and Treasurer of all committees handling funds. Disburse funds as authorized. Receive Membership dues and forward to Department/National Headquarters. Reconcile and verify all transactions listed on bank statements.
  • Adjutant Joshiko Marinko
  • Duties: Official corresponding officer for the Post. Maintain Membership records for the Post.
  • Chaplain Paul McMichael
  • Duties: Perform duties as assigned.
  • Judge Advocate – Vacant
  • Duties: Perform duties as assigned.
  • Surgeon – Vacant
  • Duties: Perform duties as assigned.
  • Trustee (Three positions) – Kurt Trettin, Al Schwietzer, Larry Carnes
  • Duties: Review the Monthly Report of Receipts and Expenditures of the Post Quartermaster. Perform a quarterly audit of the records of the Post Quartermaster. Submit a quarterly Report of Audit to the Department Inspector.

Do you do volunteer work for the VFW or in the community?

We need you to report the hours that you spend volunteering. We report this to the VFW Department office.

To report this work call or text Larry Carnes at (253) 471-9638


St. Patrick’s Day Party

March 17, 2024

The Narrows Bridge Post celebrated St. Patty’s Day in style! Of course, there was green beer, along with corn beef and cabbage with a variety of sides and desserts. With plenty to eat and drink and multiple raffles throughout the day, everyone had a wonderful time.

Erin go Bragh!


VFW National Day of Service

Saturday, May 4th is the VFW National Day of Service

The Narrows Bridge Post will be upgrading Baltimore Park (across the street, behind the Senior Center) from Noon to 4:00 by refreshing the mulch around the trees and along the path. Tacoma Metro Parks is providing all materials and tools.

We need volunteers for this project.

There are sign up sheets in the Canteen.


Our veterans need our help!

Many times this help is provided by a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). VFW Accredited Veteran Service Officers are located at the Department Headquarters in Fife, but the local Post is supposed to have a local Veterans Service Officer to assist their members. If you are interested in serving in this capacity and assisting veterans with their Veteran Administration claims, contact us at [email protected]

As a Post Service Officer you do not have to be an VFW Accredited Service Officer, but can assist the veteran is completing the initial paperwork and turn it over to the Accredited Service Officer at the Department headquarters in Fife.

VFW Accredited Service Officers are trained experts, helping veterans develop their case with ease by reviewing and applying current law, pertinent legislation, regulations and medical histories. As skilled professionals, we assist in filing for disability compensation, rehabilitation and education programs, pension and death benefits, and employment and training programs. Furthermore, they won’t hesitate to request hearings before the VA and the Board of Veterans Appeals to present oral arguments when needed.

VFW Accredited Service Officers are with America’s veterans every step of the way once they’re ready to file a claim. This is a service the VFW is proud to offer — FREE OF CHARGE — to anyone seeking assistance with the claims process.

For more information on Veteran Service Officers, click here – https://www.benefits.va.gov/vso/




Pamala Murphy – Audie Murphy’s Wife

Audie Murphy, the kid from Farmersville, Texas, was only 46 years old when he died in a helicopter crash into the Virginia Mountains.  He was bothered all his life when he came back from  World War II and it really affected his life.  He never got the medical help he should have gotten. Not many young people know who Audie Murphy was or how big a war hero he was.  Two or three of the medals he earned would make most service men proud, but to have earned his decorations in battle is truly unbelievable.

List of Decorations for Audie Murphy:

  • Medal of Honor
  • Distinguished Service Cross
  • Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster)
  • Legion of Merit
  • Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster and Valor Device)
  • Purple Heart (with two oak leaf clusters)
  • U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
  • U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal
  • Presidential Unit Citation (with First Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • American Campaign Medal
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine Campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • Army of Occupation Medal (with Germany Clasp)
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal
  • French Fourrage in Colors of the Croix de Guerre
  • French Legion of Honor – Grade of Chevalier
  • French Croix de guerre (with Silver Star)
  • French Croix de guerre (with Palm)
  • Medal of Liberated France
  • Belgian Croix de guerre (with 1940 Palm)
  • The Combat Infantry Marksman badge with Rifle Bar
  • Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar

However, this is not really about Audie Murphy. Pamela Murphy, though she was the widow of the most decorated WWII hero and actor, established her own distinctive 35 year career working as a patient liaison at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital, treating every veteran who visited the facility as if they were a VIP.

Pamala Murphy at Sepulveda VA Hospital

Any soldier or Marine who came into the hospital got the same special treatment from her.  She would walk the hallways with her clipboard in hand making sure her boys got to see the specialist they needed.  If they didn’t, watch out.
Her boys weren’t Medal of Honor recipients or movie stars like Audie, but that didn’t matter to Pam.  They had served their country. That was good enough for her. She never called a veteran by his first name.  It was always “Mister.”  Respect came with the job. “Nobody could cut through VA red tape faster than Mrs. Murphy,” said veteran Stephen Sherman, speaking for thousands of veterans she befriended over the years. “Many times I watched her march a veteran who had been waiting more than an hour right into the doctor’s office. She was even reprimanded a few times, but it didn’t matter to Mrs. Murphy.  “Only her boys mattered.  She was our angel.”

Audie Murphy died broke in a plane crash in 1971, squandering millions of dollars on gambling, bad investments, and yes, other women. “Even with the adultery and desertion at the end, he always remained my hero,” Pam said. She went from a comfortable ranch-style home in Van Nuys where she raised two sons to a small apartment – taking a clerk’s job at the nearby VA to support herself and start paying off her faded movie star husband’s debts. At first, no one knew who she was.  Soon, though, word spread through the VA that the nice woman with the clipboard was Audie Murphy’s widow .  It was like saying General Patton had just walked in the front door. Men with tears in their eyes walked up to her and gave her a hug.
“Thank you,” they said, over and over.

The first couple of years, I think the hugs were more for Audie’s memory as a war hero. The last 30 years, they were for Pam.
One year she was asked her to be the focus of a Veteran’s Day column for all the work she had done. Pam just shook her head no. “Honor them, not me,” she said, pointing to a group of veterans down the hallway. “They’re the ones who deserve it.”
The vets disagreed.  Mrs. Murphy deserved the accolades, they said. Incredibly, in 2002, Pam’s job was going to be eliminated in budget cuts.  She was considered “excess staff.”  “I don’t think helping cut down on veterans’ complaints and showing them the respect they deserve should be considered excess staff,” she said. Neither did the veterans. They went ballistic, holding a rally for her outside the VA gates. Pretty soon, word came down from the top of the VA. Pam Murphy was no longer considered “excess staff.”

She remained working full time at the VA until 2007 when she was 87.

“The last time she was here was a couple of years ago for the conference we had for homeless veterans,” said Becky James, coordinator of the VA’s Veterans History Project. Pam wanted to see if there was anything she could do to help some more of her boys. Pam Murphy was 90 when she died. What a lady.