November 30, 2006
Yesterday, we received the boxes of gourmet cookies you all sent to us. I think there were about 30 boxes in all. I can’t say thank you enough for the support your organization is showing us. I am continually humbled at the love and support we receive as soldiers and paratroopers over here. I wish you all received as much support when you all returned from Viet Nam.
I will be taking pictures and sending out formal letters in the next couple weeks. Look for them in the mail.
In His Grip!
CH Riggs
November 28, 2006
I just learned this morning that the 504 is/was leaving yesterday, today and tomorrow for Iraq. Very short notice. We’ll try to get them in on our “Christmas in Combat” program but time is short.
Rich
November 27, 2006
Dear Chaplain and Col. Owens,
I am deeply sorry to learn of our latest losses. They are our airborne sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. I received this letter today and it reads as follows:
“Dear Rich,
I was in the hospital in Vietnam at Christmas, 1968. They brought us all kinds of Care packages. I noticed the addressee name and return address had been removed from every package. It was great until I opened one that had a letter inside. It was addressed to someone I had never heard of. When I inquired about it with the nurses, they said that the hospitals got all the Care packages that could not be delivered because the addressee was KIA or sent out of country. Needless to say, I couldn’t open another one.
Thanks for what you are doing. I hope my contribution helps. Make sure that our troops in hospitals get their share of these packages. They mean a lot to you when you are lying there with nothing to do but think – and Christmas is a lonely time when you are a million miles from home (as you well know).
Keith Allen”
Keith’s letter included a check for $100. Contributions have been coming in steadily, some as much as $1,000. We’ll get as much off to you as we can (considering mailing time restraints) and make sure that the rest of the money gets to the Food Locker at Bragg to support the families back home. I have sent 40 parcels to the Chaplain this weekend and will get a bunch more off tonight to the other 2 Chaplains. I would like to send some to our 325 brothers and need an address.
Rich O’Hare
Donate to the 3rd Brigade Christmas in Iraq Fund
You may also send your check to:
3rd Brigade Christmas in Iraq Fund
Richard F. O’Hare, Treasurer
Golden Brigade Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Assn., Inc.
4075 Old River Trail
Powhatan, VA 23139-4112
Rich,
I never cease to be amazed at the resiliency of the American soldier in times of war, even in the hospital over Christmas. And in each war people from the states have always supported faithfully to help ease the loneliness of being gone over the holidays. I will make sure we get some presents to the troops in our hospital on COB Speicher.
Found out this morning that the 325 IN will not be here for Christmas. They will be home before Santa makes his rounds. We will have elements of 1-73 CAV here that we will roll up in our presents as well.
CH Riggs
November 18, 2006
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said “Its really all right,
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.”
“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ‘Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘Nam’,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”
“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.”
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”
PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
November 7, 2006
I look forward to the Chaplain’s wish list. As you may be aware, Senator Kerry’s recent remark has provoked major, major rage in the Veteran Community. It almost reminds me of the treatment that we received from America when we came home in the 60’s. For years I hid the fact that I was a decorated Vietnam Veteran of 2 tours. We cannot let this happen to our troops safeguarding the freedom we enjoy.
As a little aside, our Chapter sent letters to every 82nd company/unit etc serving in Desert Shield/Storm in December- just before things went hot in January and February- just saying how much we were behind our troops. You would not believe the response we got back thanking us for our best wishes. I will never forget a kind response from a Company Commander who posted our letter on his bulletin board. He wrote me saying how his men were afraid that they would be treated like Vietnam Veterans when they came home and they very much appreciated our support!!!!
This is the deal. I pledge $1,000 this second to send gifts to our 82nd Heroes. I will get on the horn to friends, family and other Veterans to raise a bunch more – no Sweat GI. America needs to send a message to our fine young people that they are supported and respected as they should be.
With Greatest Respect, Rich
Airborne, All the Way and God Bless America!!!
Richard F. O’Hare
gbc82abnvn@aol.com
Home 804-598-4805/9996 FAX
Office 804-784-0394/0396 FAX
Cell 804-338-8222
Your donations are appreciated and tax deductible. To make your pledge, click on ‘Comments’ and I’ll e-mail you a secure link to make your donation online.
All The Way!
Ron
November 6, 2006
A paratrooper gets out of the Army after Nam and lives his life like the American dream.
When the war on Iraq comes around 40 years later, he goes down to the local recruiting station, and tells the recruiter, “I want in, I wanna fight.”
But the recruiter says, “Sorry man, you’re too old.”
“Fine,” the guy says. “I’ll go to the Pentagon. I have a friend there. He’ll let me in!”
So he goes to the Pentagon and tells his friend, “I want in, I wanna fight.”
But his friend says, “Sorry Buddy, you’re too old.”
“Fine,” the trooper says. “I’ll buy a boat and row to Iraq!”
So he goes out and buys himself a rowboat and starts rowing to Iraq, chanting “Airborne, All The Way!” over and over again.
St. Peter sees all this and goes to God and says, “Lord, what do I do to stop this guy?”
God tells St. Peter, “Why don’t you take his brain? It’s the root of all thought.”
So St. Peter takes the guy’s brain.
It doesn’t faze him. “Airborne, All The Way!”
St. Peter then says, “Now what?!”
God replies, “Why don’t you take his heart? It’s the seat of all emotion.”
So St. Peter takes it. Doesn’t faze the guy. “Airborne, All The Way!”
St. Peter says, “Now what should I do?”
God smiles and says, “Take his balls.”
So St. Peter takes the guy’s balls.
The guy stops rowing, looks confused, turns his boat around, and begins chanting, “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder…”
November 4, 2006
Gentlemen and Troopers,
The Golden Brigade is officially supporting the 3rd Brigade in Iraq. Messages to and from the 3rd Brigade may be posted here. Please give them your full support over the coming holiday season and beyond.
The message below contains contact info and mailing addresses should you want to send a CARE package (remember those?) or send a letter or card.
Mr. O’Hare
I received your email this morning telling of your desire to support the troopers out here in Iraq at COB Speicher. You certainly know the loneliness that a paratrooper or US service member feels when Christmas finds them in a war on the other side of the world, so far away from family and friends. This is my 3rd combat tour and my second combat Christmas. For me, as I am sure it is for many troopers, Christmas is the most precious family time we have all year long. This year our family consists of our brothers in arms, sleeping in the shadow of the bullet, so that our families back home can have a silent night of peace before experiencing the joy and excitement of Christmas morning. Rest assured, any support from back home will be cherished by all who receive it this Christmas.
I am attaching the cover letter explaining Project Combat Christmas as well as sending the suggested gift list. This program is being run at the North Speicher Chapel on COB Speicher. There are also two other Panther elements at outlying FOBs that I am sure would appreciate any support as well. Their contact personnel will be listed below.
Sir, I can’t say thank you enough for your willingness to support us out here. All of us can only speculate on the experiences you endured in Viet Nam. In our books, you all are heroes.
In His Grip!
CH (MAJ) Derrick Riggs
Panther Brigade Chaplain
HHC, 3BCT, 82nd Airborne
COB Speicher
APO AE 09393
1-505th PIR
LTC Harris
CSM Watts
CH (CPT) Phil Kramer
HHC, 1-505th Infantry, 82nd Airborne
FOB Summerall
APO AE 09393
2-505th PIR
LTC Luong
CSM Hagle-Pitt
CH (CPT) Jay Outen
HHC, 2-505th Infantry, 82nd Airborne
FOB Brassfield-Mora
APO AE 09393
November 2, 2006
Panther Team,
I know this is going to turn out long, but wanted to give you an update. After arriving in Kuwait in the beginning of August, our Paratroopers hit the ground running and have not slowed down. We trained-up in the hot deserts of Kuwait for 10 days, and after our RIP process, we took over the province in the Sunni heartland. The Brigade headquarters, along with the BSTB, 1-319 AFAR, and the BSB are located on Contingency Operations Base Speicher just outside of Tikrit. LTC Scott Harris, along with the 1-505 PIR, is in Bayji, the site of a key oil refinery in Iraq. In Samarra, 2-505 PIR and their commander, LTC Viet Luong, are fighting hard to make that city safe for its citizens. We lost our RSTA squadron before we left Kuwait. They are currently operating in a battle space in and around Diyala Province under 3rd BCT of 4th ID, close to the Iranian border.
As many of you may have heard, we turned control of our province, Salah ad Din, over to the Iraqi Ground Forces Command last month, which means the Iraqis have operational control of the battle space. We have to coordinate with the Iraqis for every operation we conduct, and this is something we are pushing very hard as we put the Iraqis in the front to take charge in providing security for them selves. The Iraqi unit we work with is the 1st Brigade of the 4th Iraqi Army Division. They still have a ways to go, but they are actually a lot better than what is portrayed in the media. They are not afraid to fight, and they want to destroy the insurgency as much as we do. Their leadership is competent, but they need to build up their NCO corps. CSM Lambert, along with some of our other senior NCOs are developing an NCO academy for the Iraqis, and by teaching them standards, discipline, and self-reliance; we will go far in helping them to become independent. Recently, they took down an IED financer, who had over $5 million, in Tikrit. They were also crucial in stopping the violence in Balad. I definitely feel comfortable that they will be able to take over complete security for the province by next year.
Our biggest challenge here is working with the Iraqi Police and getting them to the same level of competence as the Iraqi Army. The police were neglected in the beginning of this fight, and now they have become our main effort. The provincial government here agrees we need to focus on the police; as they will be the ones providing the day to day security for the people. We also work with the Provincial Reconstruction Team, a State Department agency, which has the lead for governance and economic development. Iraq is a country’s whose culture is alien to ours, and most of the situations we deal with here require a great deal of mental agility from our junior leaders. At the end of the day, it is the squad leaders who are fighting and winning this war.
Our paratroopers here have a difficult mission – there is no doubt about that. They are in a complex and ever-shifting environment, where they have to always think about the second and third order effects of all their actions. This is not just a war of bullets and IEDs, but a war of words and ideas. Like every generation of Panthers who have found themselves in combat, they are performing above and beyond the call of duty.
It’s unfortunate, but just like in every other generation’s wars, our battle buddies and closest friends live the possibility of it being their last – making the ultimate sacrifice for God and country; giving their own lives for a greater good. So far, during our two months in Salah ad Din, we’ve lost four Paratroopers. SFC Knier from 1 Panther is our most recent fallen comrade, who was killed in action by an IED Oct. 21 in Bayji. SGT Baroncini and PFC Bicknell from 2 Panther also lost their lives due to an IED Oct. 16 in Samarra. Our first KIA was Cpl Arvanitis of 1 Panther. He lost his life to the bullet of an enemy sniper rifle Oct. 6 in Bayji, just a day after his 22nd birthday.
It’s never easy to mourn the death of someone you’ve trained and fought with, but our Paratroopers have kept their spirits high, always placing the mission first and accepting nothing less than success as we progress through our year-long tour here.
I appreciate all of your support and hope to keep you periodically informed of what is going on here with the Panthers.
ATW!! H-Minus!!
P6
COL Bryan Owens
Commander, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Abn Div
“The 82nd Airborne Division Historical Society, Inc. will hold its annual meeting and election of board members on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 5 PM Eastern Time. The meeting will be held in the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum. All members of the Society are urged to attend. Any members who would like to run for the board are requested to contact Ami Cooper at 910-436-1735 or abn82d@earthlink.net at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Please provide a brief resume of your qualifications. Immediately after the annual meeting the new board will meet to elect its officers for the upcoming year.”
SGT. Koons here reporting for duty. Served w/ D Co. 2nd 505th from May ‘68 til Feb. ‘69. 4th platoon / Mortar Platoon. Happy to find this site. Just got to drop a note to our boxies family about the fine job he did. Where are you Dale Beers? Fast Dependable and Courteous. Nordhorn, Dailey, Ski, Cap’n Crunch, Hale Yes, ….. (I’ll remember everyone else when I sign off!) – ALL THE WAY
RVN Unit: Co. D 2nd 505th.
RVN Dates May ‘68 to Feb. ‘69.
Location Now Georgetown, TX.
September 27, 2004 20:44:58 (GMT Time)
John J. Koons
jkoons@cox-internet.comJ
John I saw your name and remembered you; have you heard from Daily? I stay in contact with Homer Wilson – he’s in W.VA. I live in N.C.
W.Scott Carroll
hdm2000@alltel.net