The Order of William Award for Bud Ollom was postponed due to the passing of Senator Norm Coleman’s father. The event has not been rescheduled yet, preliminary estimate is that it will occur in October. Several additional names for the award have been submitted to the Senators office.
See last page of newsletter for details of 101st picnic at Trudell Guerue home on Saturday September 8. & SFA Annual Picnic at Dan Thorsen home
Chapter XV’s next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 7:30PM at Hearthside Pizza, 1641 Rice St., St. Paul (Rice St. & Larpenteur Ave.). The Chapter regularly meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at Hearthside Pizza Restaurant. Come early and bring a friend.
CALL TO ORDER
Trudell Guerue opened the meeting at 1930 hours sharp.
Howard Tellin lead with the Pledge of Allegiance. Jack followed with the prayer.
M/M to accept minutes from last meeting as written in newsletter. M/P
ROLL CALL
Trudell Guerue, Jack Running, Jerry Carlson, Howard Tellin , Tom Dvorak, Noel Johnson, Bud Ollom, Dave Nordan, Ed Haider ,Bill Anderson, Jumpin John Anderson, Steve Anderson, Dan Smeja, Al Porter
GUESTS:
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Guerue praised the speech that John Anderson delivered at the National Cemetery for All Airborne Days, saying it was well written and well spoken.
Trudell mentioned that it would be nice to contact Neil Duncan and see if he could attend a meeting. (Sgt. Duncan was WIA in Afghanistan and was recently filmed jogging with President Bush).
He also spoke of the need to find more men and women who are committed to serving the goals of the Chapter and Association.
TELLEPHONE REPORT
Nothing to report
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
On detail.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Nothing to report.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Chapter is in the black, BUT are
Always looking for donations or dues:
Chapter XV 173 A/B Brigade.
Mail to:
Chapter XV 173rd AB Brigade
PO Box 583131
Minneapolis, MN. 55440
Single year membership is $24.00
Life Membership $173.00
MIDWEST ALL-AIRBORNE ALLIANCE MWAAA
Friday dinner was well attended despite that many usual members were attending the 101st convention in Omaha. Saturday picnic had 89 people, an auction was held to help raise funds for MWAAA. Thank you to Col. Getz for bidding against himself on one of the items. Further, a very nice sword was donated for raffle and the winner; a new attendee gave the sword back to MWAAA for next year. MWAAA thanks them for their generosity.
PARADES AND POW WOWS
As of this writing no new news about the September Pow-Wow in Hastings---- may be in doubt.
Christmas Pow Wow at Prairie Island is still “undetermined”.
POW/MIA
HR 111 now has 115 Co-Sponsors. The Bill would reopen hearings on POWS/MIA’s. All MN Reps are Co-sponsors none at all from Wisconsin.
Former Congressman Herndon book is being well received.
No new information on any of the 8 missing servicemen during this war.
FYI
From Army Mil.com
Paratroopers Take Fight to Taliban
Scouts of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, react as villagers below run after spotting the Soldiers moving on the hillside during Operation Destined Strike in Chowkay Valley, Afghanistan, Aug. 22. Photo by Sgt. Brandon Aird
WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service, Sept. 5, 2007) - The tense paratroopers and Afghan National Army soldiers sat in silence surrounded by
darkness.
The previous hours were spent huddled together rehearsing the mission,
"Destined Strike," which was to be an air-assault into the Taliban's
backyard.
The whoop, whoop, whoop sound of the CH-47 "Chinook" helicopter's
rotary wings reverberated in the Soldiers' ears drowning out all chance of
another sound. Some of the Soldiers said last minute prayers while others day
dreamed of loved ones back home. Squad leaders made last minute checks in the
dark.
When the Chinook landed all thoughts came to the task at hand. The Soldiers
jumped off the noisy helicopter onto a quiet, moon-lit mountain above the Chowkay Valley in Kunar province. The mountain is over 7,000 feet above sea level.
The Taliban's biggest advantage in past firefights has been their ability to dominate
the high ground, but not this time.
Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team's 2nd Battalion, 503rd
Infantry Regiment and elements of the Afghan National Army's 2nd Kandak, 201st
Corps, conducted Operation Destined Strike Aug. 21-25. The U.S. Soldiers were
members of the 2nd platoons of the 2nd Battalion's A, C and D companies.
"We came here to show the local populace that coalition forces aren't
afraid to come into the Chowkay Valley," said 1st Lt. Kareem F. Hernandez,
Company A, 2nd Platoon leader.
After the initial insertion, the Soldiers pulled security and waited for
daybreak. During the night, they searched with night vision devices for 15
individuals spotted earlier near their position by an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Once dawn broke, the U.S. and Afghan Soldiers put their gear-laden rucksacks
on, and broke trail down the mountain to the first farming village. The village
and fields were hand cut out of the mountainside.
1st Lt. Hernandez said he was surprised at the reaction he received from the
first villager he encountered.
"It was the first time in this country I had someone admit he knew who the
Taliban were. He showed me where they had been coming through to attack
us," 1st Lt. Hernandez said. "I've never had that happen before. They
always act like they have no clue what I'm talking about."
1st Lt. Hernandez learned the Taliban in the area were from the Korengal Valley. The trip from the Korengal Valley to the Chowkay Valley takes the
insurgents two to three hours, according the local villager.
As Company A's 2nd Platoon continued to the next village, rain started falling,
along with bolts of lightning. During the ensuing storm, Taliban fighters
attacked Company A's landing zone, which was now occupied by the company
commander and an overwatch element.
"They took small arms-fire and two RPG's from the northwest," 1st Lt.
Hernandez said.
In response, Soldiers fired small arms, 120mm mortars and 155mm artillery at
the Taliban positions. The Soldiers called in for air support, and fighter jets
dropped four 500-pound bombs on enemy positions, ending any plans the Taliban
had to move the Soldiers from their position.
After the short firefight, 1st Lt. Hernandez's platoon and C Company's 2nd
Platoon spent the next few days moving to their extraction point for pick up by
a helicopter.
On their way, 1st Lt. Hernandez's platoon suffered three heat causalities. The
difficult terrain, extreme weather conditions, and carrying extra ammunition,
food and water was having its toll on the Soldiers. When one Soldier fell out,
another picked up his gear while the stricken Soldier recovered and was
examined by a medic.
After five days on the mountain, however, every Soldier who jumped out of the
helicopter as a part of Operation Destined Strike jumped back on the helicopter
without help when the mission was complete.
DISPATCHES
From Jerry Carlson
Joint Military Services Retiree Appreciation Day September 29, 2007 @ Mystic Lake Casino. Handout requests registration by 8-31-07. Call Navy RAO 612-727-2854 Tuesdays or Thursday 1000-1400 for more information.
From Ed Komac
Steve Elliott
President
Grassfire.org Alliance
P.S: Send more letters! Both Jose and Nacho have asked to
hear from Grassfire team members. See their addresses below:
Ignacio Ramos #58079-180
FCI Phoenix
Federal Correctional Institution
37910 N. 45th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Jose's address:
Jose Compean #58080180
FCI Elkton
PO Box 10
Lisbon, OH 44432
Opinion
(These Border agents have now spent 229 days in Federal Slammer
for “procedural errors “ after shooting a fleeing drug runner. They rot while
Illegal aliens are killing people all over this country--- the editor)….
Other Airborne Organizations
CHAPTER 20 SF Has changed their meeting location back to the Glockenspiel located on west 7th st. in St Paul—same time .
Screaming Eagles Minnesota contact is Collin Day he can be reached by email crd50bmg@hotmail.com or the more conventional telephone method –call 952-448-4933.
Midwest All Airborne Alliance (MWAAA) usually
holds their meetings at the Richfield American Legion Post (66th and
Portland Ave So) the 3rd Thursday of each Month. ALL members are
welcome—1800 hrs.
Training Announcement!
Force Options is offering several MN Concealed Carry Permit classes.
Monday Evenings and Saturday Classes are available.
Cabela's (Rogers, MN)
Monday September 10th & September 17th 6:00-9:00 PM
Monday October 8th & October 15th 6:00-9:00 PM
Elk River Sportsmans Club (Elk River, MN)
Saturday September 22nd 8:30-3:30
If you are interested, please register by contacting
Clyde "Mac" McRae at 651-755-9318 or at clyde@force-options.com.
Minnesota Weapons Collectors Assn.
2007 Schedule
August 18-19 St Paul River Center
Sept 20-30 MN State Fair Ed Buidng
October 27-28 Rochester Mayo Center
Dec. 8-9 St Paul River Center
Sample plaque above
Latest info on Sgt Andrew Nelson:
Visitation will be at St Ann & Joachim Catholic Church tonight 1630 to 1930
in Fargo ND 5202 25th St S.
Funeral Mass will be at St Joseph Catholic Church 1010 3rd Ave S Moorhead MN tomorrow at 1000hrs.
There will be a gathering of Troopers, for the interment, at the AIRBORNE Circle at 1030hrs Friday Ft Snelling.