May 2012 Newsletter - sfa-chapter

MAY 2012
VOL 39
Chapter 16 Newsletter Organization and Responsibilities:
Editor:
Glen Craig
Printer:
Minuteman Press
Sections:
Message from the President:
Dave Shell
Treasurers Report:
Kevin Patton
Sec. Rpt (Staff Meeting Minutes):
John Patterson
Sick Call/Obituary:
Chaplain Jake
Birthdays/Anniversaries:
Chuck Kraus
st
1 SFG(A) Update:
MAJ Gregory (1st Group POC)
Oasis Update:
Bob Ervin/John Armezanni
Blast from the Past:
Glen Craig
Special Recognition:
John Patterson
Upcoming Events:
John Patterson
Calendar:
John Patterson
Human Interest Story:
Chapter at large
SFA National HQ Update:
Dave Shell
After Action Report:
Jim Lessler
Membership Info:
Roy Sayer
Advertisements:
Glen Craig
Suspense:
Newsletter published (Web and Print):
numbered month
Input due to editor:
even numbered month
Draft due to President:
even numbered month
Final Draft due to Minuteman Press:
even numbered month
1st of each odd
20th of each
27th of each
29th of each
President’s Message
This month, Chapter Presidents from each of the SFA Chapters
around the globe were asked by National to query their members
for the three SFA issues that they consider to be their most important and to submit those issues to National for discussion at
the annual convention this summer. During our last chapter
meeting this question was put before those present, affording
them the opportunity to express their views. I made several suggestions and there were some great thoughts that came out of
the discussion, however the results of that exchange are not
written in stone and I welcome additional input from anyone in
the SF community. I would like to take this time to discuss each
one, point by point, so that everyone is fully informed on what I
believe are our best offerings.
At the top of the list is the recommendation that National eliminate the ‘Discussion’ link in the Forum section of the SFA website.
I make a point of logging onto the site at least once or twice a
month and have been both alarmed and appalled at the low level
of discourse expressed in the threads. I also notice that there
aren’t more than half dozen or so contributors, which is a clear
indication that the vast majority of SFA members don’t bother to
read or use the link. This is probably because, like me, they are
embarrassed and angry that it is being used to attack members of
the Board of Directors and others in what can only be described
as an onslaught of rumors, half truths, and innuendo that are of
the most vile and destructive nature. I submit as well, that there
are several who use the link who don’t have the courage or character to identify themselves when making inflammatory claims
against others, either formal or informal, choosing instead to hide
behind cyber ‘handles’ i.e. Cowboy 68 (created as an example by
me) or signing as ‘anonymous’ or ‘name withheld by request’.
The overall effect has been the creation of deep rifts within the SF
community that have become a huge distracter in our efforts to
serve best those whom we call Brother; SF Soldiers past and present. Some may offer that postings could be censored for negative content or that we really need a place for membership to
post whatever is on their minds. I argue that based on past experience it does is not now, nor will it likely ever be, a dialog dedi-
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cated to improving our ability to be a voice for the active duty or a source of information on SF traditions and history, as I would
expect from an association of professionals. Bottom line up front: Get rid of it!
The second issue that was discussed was National’s Education Assistance Program (EAP). SFA National has a scholarship program
that supports members with monetary grants for either themselves or their children/grandchildren. It is a good program that
donates thousands of dollars each year to help soften the burden of college expenses on SF families. The problem is that the program is poorly presented and poorly advertised. Specifics on how and when to apply require a direct dialog with National either
by phone or email, unless you live in the Fayetteville, NC area and have a routine contact with the SFA network there. Our recommendation is straight forward and simple: 1) Dedicate a section of the Winter Drop to the EAP application process each year and a
section of the Summer Drop to the recipients; 2) Update the SFA website to include detailed information on the EAP (currently it
only explains that a program exists), so that anyone who wishes to learn more about it can find all the answers there. It is a simple fix and it shouldn’t create too much debate.
Lastly, I recommend that National make it a priority to reach out to those senior leaders (GOs and CSMs) among us and invite
them to renew their participation in the SFA. I have stated before that I believe the key to an effective SFA is to get those who
have been the most successful within our ranks to support the community with their time, resources, and many talents. I don’t
think I am going too far out on a limb when I suggest that the rank and file probably played a significant role in the personal and
professional success and that they enjoy(end), and that, while not obligated, they bear some responsibility to give back to organizations and people who were loyal and faithful during their rise. Most retire to opportunities that are both lucrative and influential, placing them in positions that allow them to greatly boost the SFA through fund raising and steering. People are, and always
have been our greatest resource, and finding a way to keep them engaged has to be a top priority.
De Oppresso Liber,
Dave Shell
President, Chapter 16, SFA
Chapter XVI SFA William R Card Chapter
Meeting Minutes Apr. 14, 2012
Call to Order: Meeting brought to order by President Dave Shell at 11: 22 without the playing of the “ballad” since meeting unexpectedly had to be held in the cantina since there was a scheduling conflict for the main regimental mess room. Remaining
officers present: VP Ron Rismon, Secretary John Patterson and Treasurer Kevin Patton.
Pledge of Allegiance: VP Ron Rismon lead the chapter with a fine baritone voice.
Opening Prayer: Chaplain Jake.
Welcome and Presidents Report: President Dave Shell welcomed the members to the regimental cantina. Discussed officer
elections and the fact we were moving ahead with the same board of directors since there were no opposing candidates.
Members Present: Ted Wicorek, Tony Bonnell, James Lathrop, Charlie Higbee, CW5
Richard Kunz, John Patterson, Dave Shell, Ron Rismon, Wayne Karvonem, Roy Sayer, Ron Hale, Jim Lessler, Jake Robinson, Glen
Craig, Paul Kalnins, Mike Cassidy, CSM (Ret) Carey Pennington, John Gebbie, Butch Hall, David Adkins, Harlow Stevens, Nick Marvais and Fred Callahan.
Wives Present: Regina Hall, Elaine Lessler, Tammy Edge (soon to be), Mrs Stevens, Mrs Pennington and Mrs Higbee (sorry ladies I don’t know your first names).
Guests Present: Vannie Perez daughter of Fred Callahan.
Sick Calls & Deaths: none reported.
Secretary’s Report: Consisting of calendar of events. Officer elections 4-14-2012, Rocky Nesom Golf Tournament 5-12-2012 10
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AM, Kevin Patton/Tammy Edge wedding & reception 7-28-2012 (rsvp requested), annual chapter picnic 8-11-2012 (Capt Ron’s
place), chapter canoe/kayak trip 8/17-8/20/2012 (Lake Ozette Olympic Nat’l Park).
Treasurer’s Report: Balance as of Dec. 29, 2011= $14,740.98. Total deposits=$1810.00. Total expenses=$4246.42. Check
book balance as of Apr. 14, 2012=$12,304.56. Treasurer Kevin Patton says financially the chapter has never been better
affording us the ability to promote our charter as a benevolent organization in support of the Special Forces Community.
Quartermaster’s Report: Mike Cassidy says inventory increasing so he encourages members to spend liberally. Coming soon:
gangsta sunglasses with SF logo.
Old Business: Harlow Stevens 1st Group Reunion Chief Coordinator was asked to address the members about the upcoming 1st
Special Forces Group Reunion being held in Seattle from June 14 thru the 19, 2013. Accommodations will be at the Double Tree
Suites by Hilton (South Center). The special rates including all amenities will be valid 3 days prior and 3 days following the reunion. The hotel provides a full hot buffet breakfast and free shuttle service to the airport, all major transportation hubs (metro,
light rail) and any destination within 2 miles. The complaint from the last convention in Tampa was that there was not enough to
do. Therefore, Tours/excursions to include: 1st SFG @ JBLM, Mt Rainier, Seattle incl underground, Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Snoqualmie Casino, Emerald Downs, I Fly Tunnel, Safeco Field and day trips to Victoria via hydrofoil. This is not a complete list
as it is still a work in progress. A golf tournament is being planned for Foster Public Golf Course. Estimated cost including lunch is
expected to be $75.00. The banquet will cost approx $50.00 offering a choice of salmon or halibut and chicken or beef. Everything in the hospitality suite will be provided by us not the hotel. A call is out for volunteers to assist with all the various activities.
Younger members are encouraged to participate in the reunion and hopefully continue the tradition long after the current aging
organizers are gone.
New Business: Election of Chapter officers. Ballots disseminated to all members present for completion and entry into ballot
box. Since all candidates are running unopposed the ballots are to be checked “yes” or “no” for each. There is a write-in option.
Members not present still needing to vote have till June 1, 2012. So far only one packet has been rcvd for the $500.00 SF Scholarship. We need more applicants from our membership and their families. Announcement of the winners will be on 6-1-2012.
There was much discussion around the room about ceasing our own locale scholarship fund in favor of joining the National SF
Scholarship Fund. Pros and cons discussed ie larger fund, mostly eastern awardees/fewer local winners. Although many opinions
no consensus reached. Chaplain Jake Robinson tendered his resignation for personal reasons. The Chapter thanks him for his
many years of service. Ted Wicorek our veteran’s rep in Olympia says a new bill before the legislature to allow military spouses
to transfer licenses obtained in other jurisdictions. This would be a great help for transient military families.
For the Good of the Order: Bud Lawson is dealing with some personal medical issues so Carey Pennington has volunteered to
be the committee chairman for the coffee stop and would appreciate members helping to man the Maytown Coffee Stop 7/308/4/2012 and 8/26-8/31/2012. A schedule listing all the available slots was passed around the room. Membership reminded
that police call for the Adopt a Road program is still being done on the second Saturday of odd months (opposite meetings). See
Bill Gates if interested. Capt Ron Rismon has agreed to represent the Chapter at the National Convention this year. Canoe/
Kayak trip 8/17-8/21/2012 Lake Ozette. You can do all or any portion of the 4 days. Some equipment can be provided. A short
class will be necessary for kayak rental. Bill Gates is taking the lead on this so if you have any questions please refer to him ie
logistics. Please RSVP ASAP to Kevin or Tammy if you plan to make their wedding/reception on 7-28-2012 so they can accurately
plan for the catering etc. Capt Ron says it’ll be King Crab flown in from Alaska for this years annual summer picnic on 8-11-2012.
Wayne Karvonem gave report re: First in Asia organization resolving financial issues hopefully resulting in reinstatement of tax
exempt status. National is soliciting for chapter issues. President Dave Shell proposes eliminating “Discussions” portion from
“National Forum” on the website since it is primarily used for complaining, affording no constructive purpose. Motion proposed
and seconded.
Closing Prayer: Chaplain Butch Hall
Meeting Adjourned: 12:35 followed by chapter potluck.
Respectfully submitted,
John Patterson, Secretary Chapter XVI SFA
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J.K. Wright Memorial Breakfast, 3/3/12
The following Chapter 16 members and wives were in attendance at the J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast at the Ft. Lewis Golf
Course: Ronald & Marion Hale, Wayne & Yoko Karvonen, Ted Wicorek, Jim & Elaine Lessler and Glen Craig.
Dinosaur's Luncheon, 3/30/12
The following Chapter 16 members were present: Nick Marvais, Butch Hall, Jim & Elaine Lessler, Glen Craig, Roland Nuqui, Harlow Stevens, Captain Ron, Ron Hale, and new member Darrin Slovenick.
J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast, 4/7/12
The following Chapter 16 members were present: John Gebbie, Fred Callahan and daughter Vonnie Perez (IMO Eulis Presley), Jim
& Elaine Lessler (IMO Ernie Jamison), Ramiro Alonso (IMO Nate Chapman), Bud Lawson, Wayne & Yoko Karvonen, Glen Craig (IMO
Eulis Presley), Nick Marvais, and Harlow Stevens. Members from Chapter 43: Jerry and daughter Stacie Hampton (IMO Bart
Heimsness & Eulis Presley) and Skip Ettinger.
Dinosaur's Luncheon 4/27/12
Chapter 16 members present at the luncheon included Nick Marvais, Wayne & Yoko Karvonen, Butch Hall, John Gebbie, Glen
Craig, Jim & Elaine Lessler, Ed Booth, Harlow Stevens, Ron Hale, Ron Rismon and guest Ron Petri. Chapter 43 member present Skip Ettinger.
Chapter 16 Adopt-A-Road Project
Chapter 16 members conducted their bi-monthly roadside clean up of 2 miles on Lake
Holm Road on 17 March 2012. Members in attendance were Bill Gates, Ted Wicorek,
Jim & Elaine Lessler, local neighbors Dennis Saxon and his wife also helped out. The
Saxon's were kind enough to bring plenty of hot coffee and fresh donuts.
The road clean up began at the bottom of Lake Holm Road in a light rain. Halfway up
the hill the rain turned into snow. We completed the clean up in the snow and fortunately we finished while we could still see the trash on the side of the road.
SGM (R) Andrew J. Conner
SGM (R) Andrew J. Conner passed away Sunday night (22 April). He was a two tour Korean
War (187th RCT), and three tour Vietnam (SF) vet with 5th SFG(A) and MACV-SOG, who
retired after 31 years of service. His Grandson is CW4 Frazier who is a Battalion Operations Warrant Officer in the
10th SFG(A). The service for SGM (R) Conner is planned for 1300, Thursday (3 May) at the Friendship Baptist
Church in Prosser, WA.
Montana lost its last two members of the First Special Service Force(FSSF)
on Sunday, 8 April 2012.
A press release on Thursday states that in honor of Mark Radcliffe and Joe Glass and all
the other Montana FSSF veterans who preceded them in death, Governor Brian Schweitzer has issued a proclamation ordering flags lowered on the days of the services scheduled for these two fine men.
The press release asks Montanans to join the governor in honoring all members of the
First Special Service Force, especially those who returned to Montana and contributed
so much to our state.
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HELENA, Mont. — Ninety years ago, two boys grew up on opposite corners of mid North America. Mark Radcliffe was born in
Farmington, N.M., in 1918, while Joe Glass was born two years later, in Sarnia, Ontario.
In 1942, Radcliffe and Glass were both selected for the Plough Project, described as a “suicide mission,” and began training at Helena’s Fort Harrison. The First Special Service Force (FSSF) was an elite commando unit combining American and Canadian soldiers.
During World War II, the FSSF captured more than 27,000 enemy prisoners. Nicknamed the “Black Devils” by the Germans, their
legendary accomplishments were inspiration for the movie “The Devil’s Brigade.”
After the war, the two men returned to Helena, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
On Sunday, Radcliffe and Glass — who were Montana’s last surviving members of the FSSF — died just 12 hours apart.
“Mark and Joe were two of the original members of the First Special Service Force, and it’s appropriate that they were the last
two survivors in the state,” said FSSF aficionado Bill Woon, whose father was also a member of the elite unit. “It’s also appropriate that they were an American and a Canadian.”
Radcliffe, 94, was stationed with the 161st Infantry in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941.
He then attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., graduating in July 1942, before volunteering for the FSSF.
As commander of Third Company, Third Regiment, Radcliffe participated in the North Africa campaign, and the conquests of Italy’s Mount la Difensa and Mount Majo.
While on patrol on the beachhead of Anzio, he was captured and taken prisoner by the Germans. During interrogation at La
Florre, Radcliffe managed to escape. Traveling at night, it took three days to work his way back to his outfit, during which time he
was hit by mortar shrapnel.
After a stint in the hospital, Radcliffe was assigned to lead an independent reconnaissance mission that was part of the retaking of
Rome. At 6 a.m. on June 4, 1944, his special corps patrol passed through Rome’s Porta San Giovanni Gate, a half-hour ahead of
any other Allied unit.
By war’s end, Capt. Radcliffe had earned one Silver Star, six Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts.
Glass, 92, enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1940. He was a bayonet instructor before volunteering for the FSSF in order to “get
into combat quicker.”
With the First Company, First Battalion, Second Regiment, he was wounded during the legendary midnight assault up the cliffs of
Mount la Difensa.
During the siege of Anzio, Glass and the late Lorin Waling teamed up as a mortar tandem near the Mussolini Canal. The two were
part of dozens of recon patrols and “nearly 90 combat ambushes in No Man’s Land” between the Allies and Nazis.
Waling later recounted working with Glass, telling a reporter “Man, Joe was super-quick loading those mortar shells.”
During the breakout in March 1944, mortar shrapnel hit Glass in the chest and exited out his back. His lung collapsed, most of his
ribs were broken and separated from his spine, and he was paralyzed from the waist down.
When he started coughing up blood, Glass told his buddy, “Say goodbye to my wife and kids.”
Then another piece of shrapnel hit him in the arm.
But he somehow made it out alive and was taken to an Army hospital. In surgery, the doctors wired his ribs to his backbone, and
removed one rib to repair his lungs.
Glass returned to Helena with a 50 percent disability, but with the same grit and determination he used to help win the war, he
worked most of his life at various jobs. His occupations ranged from delivering potato chips and milk, to selling cars and insurance; from tending bar and driving taxis and concrete trucks, to owning and operating several businesses.
Glass and Radcliffe were among many of the FSSF who married local women.
Joe and his late wife Dorothy raised four children; Chuck, Bob, Victoria and Dottie.
Radcliffe, who raised children Bob and Carolyn with his wife, Edith, remained in the Army Reserve, retiring as a full colonel.
He traveled to Fort Bragg on numerous occasions while spearheading the high-altitude training facility for the Special Forces operations at Fort Harrison, and also helped start the military museum at the Helena fort.
“Dad was just a soldier through and through,” Bob Radcliffe said
100th Anniversary Of First Man
To Parachute From A Plane
Posted on: 6:10 pm, March 1, 2012, by Patrick Clark, updated on: 06:23pm, March 1, 2012
Look, up in the sky. It’s a bird, it`s a plane! It’s 100 years of history, floating to the ground.
‘It’s a story because it was made here and a man survived,’ says Sanborn.
‘It was 100 years ago,’ says Patrick Clark. ‘Right here at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri in 1912 Army Capt. Albert Berry became the
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first man to successfully parachute from a perfectly good airplane.’
It sounds like the start of a math question.
Berry was 1500 feet in the air and jumped from this plane traveling at 55 miles per hour.
Charles Benoist`s Uncle Thomas, built that plane.
‘Nearly everybody thought it was impossible to leave a small plane without upsetting the plane and causing it to crash,’ says
Chuck Benoist, the Nephew of plane designer Thomas Benoist.
The parachute was too bulky for Berry`s back so it was carried in an iron cone underneath the plane.
Berry had to climb down through the plane`s fuselage and sit on a trapeze bar. He stuck his legs through two leg loops and slid a
belt around his waist, cutting a rope to begin the descent.
He fell 500 feet before his chute opened.
The pilot, Tony Jannus, had to keep the bi-plane steady, the smallest movement could have spelled disaster at any moment.
Parachutist Badge
The first parachutist badge was designed during WW II by Copt William Yarborough (later LG William P. Yarborough) of the 501st
Parachutist Battalion. A memorandum of record written by Cpt Yarborough
22 Apr 1941, tells the story of the birth of the parachute badge.
“On March 3, 1941, I was ordered to Washington to report to the AG for temporary duty in the Office of Infantry. My mission was
the procurement of a suitable parachutist badge which would meet with the approval of The War Department and the CO of the
501st Parachute Battalion. MAJ Miley (Cdr 501st), before my departure, gave me full authority to approve any design that I considered acceptable, and to do so in his name. The same authority was delegated to me in the name of the Chief of Infantry’.
“I drew the original sketch in the office of LTC Beuchner, G3; a finished copy of my original sketch was prepared in the office of
the Quartermaster General. Through the help of Mr. A. E. Dubois, in the Quartermaster General’s office 350 of the badges were
procured from Bailey, Banks & Biddle Company in Philadelphia and were in the hands of the CO of the t01st by Mar 14,
1941. This is believed to have been an all time speed record for War Department Procurement. I personally took the correspondence relative to the badge’s approval from on office to another until the transaction was complete. This operation took me
one entire week, eight hours a day.”
CPT Yarborough even applied for a patent to protect the design from unauthorized reproduction. On February 2, 1943, Patent
#134963 was granted for “A Parachutist’s Badges” for a period of three and one-half years.
The Parachutist Badge was formally approved on 10 March 1941. The senior and master badges were authorized by HQ, DOA in
1949 and were announced by Change 4, AR 600-70, dated 24 Jan 1950.
Above was emailed to SF Chapters by an SFer…..
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For anyone who would like more information about the cruise please contact Jim Lessler at 253-813-0751 or email jlessler@comcast.net.
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Chaplin Jake’s Corner
SENIORS
Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or
imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others. HOWEVER, upon
reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took:
The melody out of music,
The pride out of appearance,
The courtesy our of driving,
The romance out of love,
The commitment out of marriage,
The responsibility out of parenthood,
The togetherness out of the family,
The learning out of education,
The service out of patriotism,
The Golden Rule from rulers,
The nativity scene out of cities,
The civility out of behavior,
The refinement out of language,
The dedication out of employment,
The prudence out of spending,
The ambition our of achievement,
or God out of government and school.
And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and
interactions with others!! And we do understand the meaning of patriotism and remember those who have
fought and died for our country.
YES, I’M A SENIOR CITIZEN!
I’m the life of the party……Even if it lasts until 8 p.m.
I’m very good at opening childproof caps…With a hammer!
I’m awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.
I’m smiling all the time because I can’t hear a thing you’re saying.
I’m sure everything I can’t find is in a safe secure place, somewhere.
I’m wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that’s just my left leg.
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I’m a walking storeroom of facts…I’ve just lost the key to the storeroom door.
Christmas in March
Our mission trip started on March 10 through March 16. It was a awesome experience as we had the pleasure of joining other
groups working in the Philippines. So first of all I want to thank the Lord for blessing this mission and keeping us safe and helping
us touched the lives of so many children. Someone estimate it was over 5,000 children. We had a special emphasize on reaching
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out to the indigenous peoples of the Philippines. As one little tribal boy said this is the best Christmas ever.
The first group of children we reached out to were the bridge children because they live under the bridge near the airport in Manila. There we met many small clusters of street kids they do not trust any outsiders; but they have a good rapport with the sisters who work at the nearby hospital. They performed gangster rap song and danced for us. They were happy to be getting fed
and getting the Christmas gifts, but they did not seem interested in us. All in all it made me feel sad!
The idea behind this mission work in Manila area was bring awareness of the bridge children to the local people. The truth is I
don’t know what this program will bring about in regards to the plight of these children but I have hope that the blessings will
come. Most of these children do not seem to go to school.
We then went to Bataan area and visited with the Aeta or better know as Negritos. They lived in the isolated mountainous parts
of the Island of Luzon. They are darker skinned with a small frame, curly to kinky afro-like textured hair with a higher frequency
of naturally lighter hair color (blondism) relative to the general population, small nose, and dark brown eyes. The Aeta children
were healthy and seemed very happy compared to the bridge child. They were wild and free of spirit and over all were in very
good health. The loved to play and climbing trees, playing chase and inter acting with us freely.
The Aeta’s are thought to be among the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, preceding the Austronesian migrations. The Austronesian family include Taiwanese aborigines; the majority ethnic groups of East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Madagascar, Micronesia, and Polynesia, as well as the Polynesian peoples of New Zealand and Hawaii, and the non-Papuan
people of Melanesia. They are also found in Singapore, the Pattani region of Thailand, and the Cham areas of Vietnam (remnants
of the Champa kingdom which covered central and southern Vietnam), Cambodia, and Hainan, China. The territories populated by
Austronesian-speaking peoples are known collectively as Austronesia.
In the 1960’s many of the Aeta / Negritos trained American how to survive in the jungles of Southeast Asia. It is sad to see how
their lives have changed due to over population and growth of Luzon. These wonderful mountain people are a displaced people
as many now look at themselves with contempt as they now dwell in the low lands and shamefully call themselves Lowlanders. I
want to give thanks to the Philippine Navy Medical personal and the Navy Base Commander for helping us in reaching out to these beautiful people and Sister Eva Maamo (Mother Theresa of the Philippines) in Manila and Subic / Zambales. This wonderful
Roman Catholic Nun guided us into the mountains. As we shared Christmas in March with the Aeta in their mountain home area
and they enjoy the Christmas gifts of Blankets, flip-flops, cloths, and toys and food for the children they also received medical help
provided by the Philippine Navy.
Leaving the Island of Luzon we flew to the Island of Negros on the 12 of March. There we did a number of community outreach
medical programs. The people raise sugar cane; it is back breaking work.
On the 14 of March we visited : “Recovered Treasures Children’s Home” outside Bacolod. Pa Pastor Todd (a retired US Marine)
and Ma Catharine Caplinger are being blessed by almost 70 beautiful, charming, and well-mannered children. It was a Christmas
to remember.
We are also visiting Calvary Chapel Children Home of Bacolod and Papa Joe (also a retired US Marine) and Mama Billie what a
blessing. Before I close; I want the give credit to and special thanks to US Navy Commander Chaplain Manuel A. (Don) Biadog Jr."
and of course all the members of our wonderful team of hard working people, also for for the team at True Love Waits, and the all
volunteers serving on the world’s largest sea going book store the Logos Hope. May the Lord bless us with another mission to
work together in the future!
Pastor Butch Hall
Key Peninsula Baptist Church (SBC)
Lady gets first Bible written in her Language.
Ree part of True Love Waits Team
Tried to get kids to eat with
spoons but hands were better.
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Philippine Naval Medical Team running SickCall
JFK Statue Dedicated at Special Forces Ceremony
April 06, 2012
Fayetteville Observer|by Henry Cuningham
The Army's newest Special Forces soldiers will receive and don their green berets in front of the newly dedicated statue of President John F. Kennedy approving the official headgear more than 50 years ago.
H. Ross Perot donated the 7-foot bronze statue that depicts Kennedy and then-Brig. Gen. William P. Yarborough during the presidential visit to Fort Bragg on Oct. 12, 1961.
The larger-than-life likenesses of the two men stand on a marble base about 5 feet high in front of Kennedy Hall, one of the two
main buildings on the campus of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
Special Forces were founded in 1952 during the Cold War at Fort Bragg for a possible role behind enemy lines if war broke out in
Europe. In the early 1960s, Yarborough had been trying to persuade a reluctant Army to approve the green beret as the official
headgear of the specially trained men well adapted for United States' growing fight against communist insurgencies worldwide.
"He found an ally in President Kennedy," Perot said during the dedication and graduation ceremony.
Kennedy called the green beret "a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom," Perot
said. Those words are inscribed on the base of the statue.
"And I can't think of a better series of words to describe the green beret," Perot said.
Perot spoke to the 127 graduates of the 267th Special Forces Qualification Course and hundreds of their family members during
the outdoor ceremony in the parking lot. The Texas billionaire and past presidential candidate stood behind the podium last used
by JFK during the visit to Fort Bragg.
Perot brought to the podium the green beret that belonged to the late Col. Arthur "Bull" Simons. During his remarks, Perot recalled the exploits of Simons, whose statue he donated earlier is visible across Ardennes Street. The Yarborough-Kennedy statue is
based on photographs of the event. The president, who was 6 feet tall, stands taller than Yarborough. The president is trim and
holding his glasses, looking fit, relaxed, intellectual and in charge. The general stands at attention, wearing his beret, general's belt,
bloused pants and jump boots. One detail from the photograph not in the statue is the class ring on Yarborough's left hand.
The sculptor, Paul Moore of Oklahoma, did not attend the ceremony.
The audience included friends and family members who came from places ranging from Southern Pines to Seattle.
At the start of the ceremony, the graduates, wearing camouflage patrol caps, marched to their seats through green smoke with a
bagpiper playing "Scotland the Brave."
The qualification course produces Special Forces detachment officers, weapons sergeants, engineer sergeants, medical sergeants
and communications sergeants. Training an Army Green Beret takes longer than an Air Force fighter pilot, said Maj. Gen. Bennet S.
Sacolick, the commanding general of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
"Some of these young men have been training for well over two years, some longer," Sacolick said. "This doesn't count the months
they spent just preparing for the physical rigors of the course. It doesn't count the endless miles, solitary hours they spent in the
gym, on the side of the road with a rucksack on their back, usually very early in the morning or very late at night, and almost always on their own time."
Sacolick said Perot has quietly helped provide medical care and transportation for soldiers and their families in times of need.
"As always, if there's anything we can do to help and support, we'll be right there," Perot said during his remarks.
Then-Brig. Gen. William Yarborough (left) meets with President John F. Kennedy on Fort Bragg, N.C. in 1961. This meeting
has been commemorated in a statue, placed outside Kennedy Hall on Fort Bragg, which will be dedicated in a ceremony April 5.
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Thanks to John Fryer and Ike Eisentrout for sending this.
The A-Team as seen thru the eyes of the Weapons Sgt.
By Anonymous
There is a profound distinction between the importance of the Weapons Sergeant and all the other personnel on a Special Forces
Team. There are 12 members with a number of different specialties, but aside from the Weapons Sergeants, all the rest are
essentially support. Detachments consist of a Captain, Warrant Officer, Intel NCO, Team Sergeant, and then the soft skills of
Engineer, Commo, and Medic, with two of each. But the emperor of all he surveys, bestriding the Earth like a Colossus is the ramp
-jumping, door-kicking, slim-waisted, barrel-chested, freedom-fighting Weapons Sergeant.
Detachment Commander
The ostensible leader of the team is the Detachment Commander, a Captain who has had a command tour of a 100+ personnel
combat arms unit. They go through the SF Qualifications "Q" course like the NCOs on the team and often show up for their year or
two on a team with great ambitions. These are dashed immediately as they are shown that the actual team leader is the ranking
NCO, the Team Sergeant, who will have 10 or more years experience on an A team and more importantly the respect of the other
NCOs. One of the first SF team rooms I walked into had a plaque hanging over the Detachment Commander's desk that read "Shut
up sir, we'll throw you a pen when we need you to sign something." The main reason the Army requires a commissioned officer
on a detachment is the need for a scapegoat when something inevitably goes horribly wrong. This takes into account the virtual
certainty that all NCOs involved will certainly have bullet-proof alibis for any misdeeds. Regulations and custom dictate that the
Captain commands the team but not all of them progress to the next step which allows them to be known as the Team Leader. As
the sole officer on a team of 10 sergeants who will have more than 100 years experience doing the job, it is a large hill to climb.
Especially since they usually get only 2 or so years time on a team before they are either out or up to a command role or a staff
position. The bad ones get saluted and check a block on their career path; the good ones lay their credit card on the bar and say,
"Let's see if we can melt this thing."
Team Sergeant
The real leader is almost always the Team Sergeant. This Master Sergeant will be the most experienced NCO on the team and
have proven himself on the ground where it matters. His informal/unofficial leadership of the team is the status quo and smart
Captains spend their first year rubber stamping the "recommendations" of their Team Sergeant and busting their butts to show
the rest of the team that they are not just another clown trying to get promoted.
Team Sergeants ride herd on the eight reprobates who have the skills and experience necessary to get the mission accomplished.
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The role requires both discipline and diplomacy as the desire of the team members to violate comes up against the Captain's need
to avoid international incidents. This is a very unstable dynamic and often requires a lot of horse trading to rein in all the cowboys.
Although ordering compliance is an option, it is taken as a sign of weakness. We used to call this using the "S" word, as in Sergeant. All names in the team room are first names until someone feels the need to assert authority saying, "Now listen up SGT So
& So". This elicits laughs and derision. Respect and even authority are earned and can't be obtained by barking, although
obedience can, well, at least temporarily. The Team Sergeant's word is law and crossing him is bad juju. When GPS was first deployed and my Team Sergeant came across our commo guys trying to find enough satellites to get a position fix, he growled menacingly, "If I ever catch you two idiots asking a damn radio where you are and you can't show me on a map, I will kick both your
asses."
XO
The Warrant Officer is an experienced NCO who went to the next level and figured out that if you were smart enough to understand the officer and command and control functions you removed yourself from most of the crap jobs on the team. They are a
tremendous source of institutional knowledge about how to maximize your per diem dollars while deployed and the best ways to
stay, warm or cool (as the case may be) and dry. They can often be found doing a crossword puzzle while the rest of the team
packs, fetches, totes or cleans. It's a good gig if you can get it.
Intel NCO
Each team also has an Intel NCO whose job is to have a clue about who we were messing with and why. Second in seniority to the
Team Sergeant among NCOs, they are often abused by the other specialties as a soft skill. This was due to how often they have to
excuse themselves to go to briefings or read area studies or some other admin BS. This allowed them to miss any manual labor
without appreciably adding to the team's knowledge of anything useful.
Example of Intelligence at work:
Weapons- "Which one is the target?".
Intel- "His name is Akhnard ben Akhnard. He is a member of the Douchebagi tribe and spent his childhood in the Poontang
Valley."
Weapons- "Yeah but which one is he, I want to shoot him."
Intel- "He was educated at the Wanker Academy near the Play Doh river in GoatRopeistan".
Weapons- "Would you STFU and just tell me which one of the clowns down there is him? Ahhh never mind, you muppet, he has
to be the one whose ass all the rest are kissing. BAKOW!
Engineer
Engineers are assigned to an A team because often the mission will require the Weapons Sergeant to operate in areas with limited
shelter and overall primitive accommodations. Engineers can be useful in the construction of living quarters, eating facilities,
hygiene infrastructure and bordellos. They also provide value when the Weapons Sergeant's mission requires the removal of
obstacles or the destruction of fixed targets. They exhibit a child-like glee when given the opportunity to blow something up.
Another benefit is that they take well to their pack animal status; Engineers being generally beefy and somewhat dim. They usually don't even notice that they are carrying their own and the Weapons Sergeant's share of the commo batteries and additional
team gear. Were it not for their load-bearing and limited construction capability, Engineers would not be worth the food and water they require since any Weapons Sergeant can properly employ explosives to explode anything needed by simply reading a
Demo card and using P for plenty.
Medic
SF Medics undergo the longest training of any Special Operators and consequently have an inflated sense of self-importance. They
believe the extended time they spend learning how to keep the Weapons Sergeant healthy and whole somehow directly increases
their value to the team. Not so, and in most cases their main value is in assisting in hangover recovery with IVs and
Oxygen. Granted that in extremis the medical attention of one of these folks may actually keep a Weapons guy mission capable or
even alive, but way too much of the time this is not the case and listening to a mouthy, know-it-all medic gets stale quickly. The
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inherent danger of the Weapons guy's mission requires the services of a qualified chancre mechanic but the medic needs to
remember his place. Teams deploy to crapholes all over the planet, so the medic provides much of his limited usefulness working
on farm animals of the local populace to gain their friendship. This is a natural progression as medics learn their trade on
goats and never really lose this affinity.
Commo
It is especially tough to understand the value of the Commo Sergeant on a team, but let's try. These red-headed step-children
have always been considered a little different due to their ability to tap out Morse code and that alone gives them a sort of Rain
Man quality. They may be the last folks on earth who actually use this arcane skill. Given the tremendous advances in
communications, their role could easily be filled by a 16-year-old girl cranking out text messages on an Android smartphone.
These over-amped geeks have even gone so far as to suggest that the Weapons Sergeant carry some of the power sources for
their always-too-heavy radios, etc. All in all, if the commo guy can't get NFL Primetime in Hi Def, he is dead weight.
Weapons
Anyone with an above double digit IQ can readily grasp the intrinsic dominance and primacy of the Weapons Sergeant on a team.
The others have some value, but essentially they are enablers of the mission to put a Weapons Sergeant in position to do something special. He can stack dead tangos like cord wood, lower vermin to room temperature or use any number of high-speed,
low-drag, fin-cooled, gas-operated, dacron-coated, titanium-filled, death-dealing devices to return scumbags to their component
molecules and leave the clean-up and DNA testing to the Engineers and Medics. Properly backed up by the hired help, the
capabilities of the Weapons Sergeant are virtually unlimited. Regardless of the mission, the important thing is to ensure that the
Weapons Sergeant arrives fresh and with all the required equipment contained in the rucksacks of his beasts of burden team
mates. The ancillary members of the detachment are simply there to ease the strain and simplify the mission of the Weapons
Sergeant and will forever remain his supporting cast.
Kris Hare, daughter of Chapter 16 member COL (Ret) John “Skip” Sadler and realty professional extraordinaire, has generously
offered to donate 10% of her sales commission to Chapter 16, SFA on property sales made to the SF community, active and retired. Please consider giving her a call if you have real estate needs and mention that you are in the SF family. She is top notch
and understands the needs and challenges of military families.
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Blast from the Past
Jump at Ft Bragg 1966
C-130 at Pope AFB
Please send me your old Photo’s. I’m running out. I can scan old Photo’s and convert slides
To digital so help me out and you won’t be bored with my old pictures.
Glen Craig much younger
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Rally Point Chute Turn in