Our hosts, Charlotte and Rick Randazzo, organized a chartered bus trip to New Orleans where we visited the National WWII Museum. The film, Beyond All Boundries, narrated by Tom Hanks, was a true 4D experience–there were plenty of off-screen stimuli that were very well done–we still have our ‘startle’ reflexes. There was plenty of free time to explore the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, and to sample the world-famous beignets. Charlotte also organized a shopping/antiquing trip for the ladies and a Rick led a fishing excursion. Rick’s poolside shrimp and crawfish boil (with Carl Bludau’s homemade spicy wild pig and venison sausage) was to die for!  Even with all the scheduled activities there were quiet times in the hospitality suite for reminiscing. And then there was the casino . . .

At the General Membership meeting a VA representative discussed PTSD and claims with  follow-up Q&As. This is something that should be available to our families, as well. The Chapter will look to the new Army Museum at Ft Belvoir to display our heritage–Ft Bragg is too far off the beaten path and there’s just not enough room to properly dislpay our history. Carl Bludau will be stepping down as Chapter Chairman on January 1, 2013 after 21 years of service. At a Division reunion in Houston, TX, Carl, Rich O’Hare, and Dickie Keaton posted a small sign inviting and 82nd Vietnam veterans to stop by and have a beer–and thus, the Golden Brigade Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association was born. Carl has served as our Chairman since inception. Paddy Barry was nominated and unanimously approved as our next Chairman. Location ideas for our next and 50th reunions were tossed around without any consensus. Saigon or Hue, anyone?

At our formal dinner, the Missing Man Table ceremony honored our forever young and recent passings were remembered. James Kiser offered the benediction. Richard Armocido won the door prize for a very nice bottle of Gentleman Jack Daniels whiskey etched especially for the Golden Brigade–thanks to the Randazzo’s for donating this great gift! Ken Steelman donated a print of In Contact, the Golden Brigade portrait. It was very nicely matted and framed with our challenge coin as an inset. Leonel and Laila Alvarado very generously won the auction for this great piece of art. nicely framed painting of ou, Rick Randazzo, painting Ken Steelman, James Kiser led us in prayer. Lastly, Carl Bludau was roasted by several friends, icluding Kieth Bell, John Kapranopolous, and Dickie Keaton. We learned all about Willis and the ‘Never Again Club’. It was truly a great roast. Thanks you for your service to our Chapter, Carl–we are all better for your inspiration and steerage of the Chapter. Carl will continue to focus on the Wounded Warriors Project and Division activities.

I am hopingyou would be willing to share any memories, experiences or photos you have with Sergeant Scurfield that I can include in my memorial to make my tribute more personal.

If you would like to see similar projects to the one I’m working on and where my memorial will eventually be posted, please visit http://www4.eanesisd.net/~vietnam/.

Thank you very much for your time,

Jono Krawczyk

Please feel free to email me at jonokrawczyk@gmail.com

My name is Tim Dibble, the son of SFC Dibble. He was in the 82nd Airborne in Vietnam. He was also in the third infantry division. He was in Vietnam in 25 May 69 to 24 June 70. Please if you knew him or was one of his buddies please feel free to contact me. I am sorry to let you know that on March 13 1998 he had passed away with cancer do to agent orange. I live in Florida  and my number is (352)489-7815. Please, please, please feel free to call me if you knew him. Thanks in advance

Tim Dibble
jrsmom63@netzero.com

Thanks to Jim Littig for this . . .

Sharon M. Deane
sdeane@vvmf.org

CIVIL ACTIONS MEDAL, FIRST CLASS

The Civil Actions Medal, First Class has been awarded by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam for outstanding service during the period February 1968 through 2 May 1970 to the 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION and its assigned and attached units:

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Airborne Division (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (For the period 18 March 1068 to 2 May 1970)

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (For the period 3 October 1968 to 2 May 1970

Headquarters, Headquarters Company and Band, 101st Airborne Division Support Command (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 101st Airborne Division Artillery (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

101st Administration Company (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

1st Battalion, 327th Infantry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

2d Battalion, 327th Infantry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

2d Battalion, 502d Infantry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

1st Battalion, 501st Infantry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

2d Battalion, 501st Infantry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

1st Battalion, 502d Infantry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

2d Battalion, 320th Artillery (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

1st Battalion, 321st Artillery (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Aviation Group (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

2d Squadron, 17th Cavalry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

801st Maintenance Battalion (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

326th Medical Battalion (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1(70)

326th Engineer Battalion (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

501st Signal Battalion (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

101st Military Intelligence Company (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

101st Military Police Company (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

265th Radio Research Company (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

42d Infantry Platoon (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

20th Chemical Detachment (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

25th Public Information Detachment (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

34th Public Information Detachment (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

45th Public Information Detachment (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

22d Military History Detachment (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

3d Battalion, 506th Infantry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970)

1st Battalion, 506th Infantry (For the period 3 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

2d Battalion, 506th Infantry (For the period 3 October 1068 to 2 May 1970)

3d Battalion, 187th Infantry (For the period 3 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division (For the period 12 March 1968 to 4 October 1968)

1st Battalion, 505th Infantry (For the period 12 March 1968 to 4 October 1968)

2d Battalion, 505th Infantry (For the period 12 March 1968 to 4 October 1968)

1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (For the period 12 March 1968 to 4 October 1968)

2d Battalion, 321st Artillery (For the period 12 March 1968 to 4 October 1968)

3d Platoon, 82d Military Police Company (For the period 12 March 1968 to 1 May 1968)

Company D, 307th Medical Battalion (For the period 12 March 1968 to 1 May 1968)

3d Forward Support Platoon, Company A, 782d Maintenance Battalion (For the period 12 March 1968 to 1 May 1968)

Aviation Platoon, 82d Aviation Battalion (For the period 12 March 1968 to 1 May 1968)

Company C, 307th Engineer Battalion (For the period 12 March 1968 to 4 October 1968)

82d Military Intelligence Detachment (For the period 12 March 1968 to 4 October 1968)

Troop B, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry (For the period 12 March 1968 to 4 October 1968)

2d Battalion 319th Artillery (For the period 3 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Battery D, 2d Battalion, 320th Artillery (For the period 1 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery (For the period 25 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Battery A, 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery (For the period 23 December 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Battery B, 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery (For the period 30 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

Battery C, 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery (For the period 25 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

2d Battalion, 11th Artillery (Less Btry A) (For the period 10 June 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Battery A, 2d Battalion, 11th Artillery (For the period 30 November 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Battery F, 16th Artillery (For the period 10 June 1968 to 30 November 1968)

Battery A, 377th Artillery (For the period 20 December 1968 to 2 May 1970)

159th Aviation Battalion (Less Co C) (For the period 1 July 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Company C, 159th Aviation Battalion (For the period 31 December 1968 to 2 May 1970)

163d Aviation Company (For the period 1 July 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 158th Aviation Battalion (For the period 26 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

Company A, 158th Aviation Battalion (For the period 2 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

Company’ B, 158th Aviation Battalion (For the period 25 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

Company C, 158th Aviation Battalion (For the period 2 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

Company D, 158th Aviation Battalion (For the period 27 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

478th Aviation Company (For the period 3 November 1968 to 2 May 1970)

5th Transportation Battalion (For the period 1 July 1968 to 2 May 1970)

426th Supply and Service Battalion (For the period 1 July 19G8 to 2 May 1970)

Company C,101st Aviation Battalion (For the period 1 July 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Company D, 101st Aviation Battalion (For the period 1 July 1968 to 2 May 1970)

Company F, 58th Infantry (For the period 18 March 1968 to 1 February 1969)

Company L, 75th Infantry (For the period 1 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

47th Infantry Platoon (For the period 30 May 1968 to 2 May 1970)

58th Infantry Platoon (For the period 3 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

557th Infantry Platoon (For the period 21 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

10th Chemical Platoon (For the period 20 May 1968 to 2 May 1970)

266th Artillery Detachment (For the period 14 April 1969 to 2 May 1970)

159th Transportation Detachment (For the period 3 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

168th Transportation Detachment (For the period 25 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

169th Transportation Detachment (For the period 27 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

268th Transportation Detachment (For the period 30 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

273d Transportation Detachment (For the period 2 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

327th Transportation Detachment (For the period 31 December 1968 to 2 May 1970)

331st Transportation Detachment (For the period 25 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

332d Transportation Detachment (For the period 25 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

333d Transportation Detachment (For the period 30 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

382d Transportation Detachment (For the period 3 November 1968 to 2 May 1970)

388th Transportation Detachment (For the period 25 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

499th Transportation Detachment (For the period 20 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

507th Transportation Detachment (For the period 30 March 1969 to 2 May 1970)

510th Transportation Detachment (For the period 20 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

516th Transportation Detachment (For the period 20 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

52ith Transportation Detachment (For the period 20 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

530th Transportation Detachment (For the period. 20 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

625th Transportation Detachment (For the period 20 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

649th Transportation Detachment (For the period 20 October 1968 to 2 May 1970)

650th Transportation Detachment (For the period 20 December 1969 to 2 May 1970)

United States Special Security Detachment (For the period 30 August 1968 to 2 May 1970)

142d Transportation Company (For the period 25 October 1968 to 10 November 1968)

Troop D, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry (For the period 31 July 1968 to 1 May 1969)

Operating Location 6, 5th Weather Squadron, Air Weather Service, USAF (For the period 7 February 1969 to 2 May 1970)

50th Medical Detachment (For the period 1 July 1968 to 2 May 1970)

613th Transportation Detachment (For the period 1 July 1968 to 2 May 1970)

204th Military Intelligence Detachment (For the period I8 March 1968 to 25 March 1968)

181st Military Intelligence Detachment

The citation reads as follows:

The l0lst Airborne Division has distinguished itself as an outstanding, combat-experienced unit, and has achieved several splendid victories against the Communist aggressors during the period February 1968 to May 1970. In addition to their combat operations against the enemy, the men of the l0lst Airborne Division have displayed an enthusiastic spirit of service in civil affairs activities and have achieved numerous successful results in the fields of public health and cultural and social affairs. In particular in Thua Thien Province, since 1968 the division has made every effort to overcome all difficulties in assisting the local authorities and population in relocating and returning to their homes thousands of people, and in rebuilding and constructing countless schools, markets, medical facilities and other social and charitable institutions. Furthermore, the l0lst Airborne Division has promoted a spirit of friendship between the Vietnamese people and the United States Armed Forces by distributing vast quantities of food, clothing, medicine, construction materials, and other items essential to the war victims in Thua Thien Province and Hue City. As a result of these outstanding achievements, the l0lst Airborne Division has made a substantial contribution to the rural pacification and construction efforts of the government of the Republic of Vietnam.

VALOROUS UNIT AWARD.

Paragraph 17, Section I, DA General Orders 43, 1970 pertaining to the award of the Valorous Unit Award to the 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry and its attached units is amended to add “Battery B, 2d Battalion, 32Ist Artillery (For the period 23 August 1968 through 1 November 1968)

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

W.C. WESTMORELAND,
General, United States Army,
Chief of Staff.

Official:

VERNE L. BOWERS,
Major General, United States Army,
The Adjutant General.