THE ABOVE AND BEYOND CHAPTER Sun Eagle News Letters/170422 - FGCC Newsletter... · 2017-05-13 · "THE ABOVE AND BEYOND CHAPTER" Sun Eagle News ... the colors by Rick Lencioni, Charlie

Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

101st Airborne Division Association "THE ABOVE AND BEYOND CHAPTER"

Sun Eagle News

“Rendezvous with Destiny”

April - June 2017 Issue

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Bastogne Luncheon

Our annual December Bastogne luncheon kicked-off with the posting of the colors by Rick Lencioni, Charlie Rubado, and Herb Hawkins, and although it was a close call, the chandelier escaped damage once again this year. Three World War II veterans were on hand, chapter member Jack Schiffer, George Gussette, a Bastogne veteran with the 502nd PIR, and Jim May, a veteran of the 511th PIR who made the combat jump into the Philippines. Our guests also included our two R&R program active duty soldiers; Sergeant Andrew Anderson and Sergeant David Sin, from the 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.

Following dinner, we presented our annual chapter awards. Tom Sewell, was selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Doreen Brown for the Lady Trooper of the Year, and Chapter Vice-President, George Buck, for the Trooper of the Year Award. These were all well deserved. I had a difficult time keeping the list of Tom's achievements on behalf of our chapter to manageable amount to fit in the time available. Tom has worked tirelessly on countless projects at both the chapter and national levels that have greatly benefited our association. Congratulations to all our awardees. Our thanks to Susan Reardon for hosting us at the Clearwater Yacht Club a great location, and a good time.

Snowbird 2017

2017 was another great reunion, with the Governor stopping by, pirates landing, a bag piper, the Out Back Steakhouse dinner, a parachute jump, Fred Behrens’ weapons display and the Division Soldier of the Year, SPC Bullen and BG Scott Brower, Deputy Division Commander, in attendance. Governor Rick Scott of Florida stopped by Thursday morning to award the Governors Veterans Service Award to the Florida veterans attending the reunion. When he saw that we had veterans from all over the country, he made a command decision to present the award to all the 101st Airborne veterans present, During my introduction of the Governor, I highlighted the fact that he is a Navy veteran and his Father served in the 82nd Airborne during WWII. Three of our WWII veterans had not arrived yet, but we were able to get BG Scott Brower to present the Governor's Award them to them the next day.

Piper Jeff Williams volunteered to play the pipes during the banquet cocktail hour and did an excellent job. Our color guard was from the Alonso High School JROTC and they were terrific, what most people didn't realize was that they had never done this before, but they arrived

early and spent the good part of an hour rehearsing until it went off without a hitch. It's hard to believe looking at them, but three of them were seniors and had already enlisted in the Army. They go to Basic training in June. BG Scott Brower was our guest speaker and delivered a great speech both interesting and humorous. He apparently knew Vincent Speranza very

President Emeritus Pat Macri

Officers

President William C. Ball [email protected] 813-948-3208

Vice President George Buck [email protected] 727-823-6970

Secretary-Treasurer William C. Bennett [email protected] 813-892-6112

Web Master Eddie Pissott [email protected] 813-932-2100

Past President

Les Colegrove

Board of Governors

Dick Pack

Ralph Ormes

Herb Hawkins

Tom Sewell

Richard Wallace

Eddie Pissott

John Taylor

Jim Wheeler

Sun Eagle Newsletter Apr – Jun 2017

well. Vincent followed the General and recited a poem about Vietnam veterans. It was a good turn out with nearly 250 at the banquet and the weather cooperated staying warm and sunny. All in all another good time.

Bill

William Ball Chapter President

The President of the United States in the name of

The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor To

Dale Eugene Wayrynen Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army

Born: Jan 18, 1947 at Moose Lake, MN

Entered Service: Minneapolis, MN

Date/Place of Action: May 18, 1967 - Duc Pho, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam

Unit: Company B, 2d Bn, 502d Infantry, 1st Bde, 101st Airborne Division

Presentation: Presented to family at the White House by President Richard M. Nixon on Oct 16, 1969

Date Of Death: May 18, 1967 (Killed In Action)

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Wayrynen distinguished himself with Company B, during combat operations near Duc Pho. His platoon was assisting in the night evacuation of the wounded from an earlier enemy contact when the lead man of the unit met face to face with a Viet Cong soldier. The American's shouted warning also alerted the enemy who immediately swept the area with automatic weapons fire from a strongly built bunker close to the trail and threw hand grenades from another nearby fortified position. Almost immediately, the lead man was wounded and knocked from his feet. Sp4c. Wayrynen, the second man in the formation, leaped beyond his fallen comrade to kill

another enemy soldier who appeared on the trail, and he dragged his injured companion back to where the point squad had taken cover. Suddenly, a live enemy grenade landed in the center of the tightly grouped men. Sp4c. Wayrynen, quickly assessing the danger to the entire squad as well as to his platoon leader who was nearby, shouted a warning, pushed one soldier out of the way, and threw himself on the grenade at the moment it exploded. He was mortally wounded. His deep and abiding concern for his fellow soldiers was significantly reflected in his supreme and courageous act that preserved the lives of his comrades. Sp4c. Wayrynen's heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the service, and they reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

Wings of Eagles

Bill Bennett

[email protected]

“B.I.S.S.”

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 20:20

As a young Army captain I commanded a heavy infantry company at Ft. Riley, KS. We were required to pass an annual Operational Readiness Test (ORT). An ORT was a tactical exercise to test our warfighting capabilities at the company and battalion level. Normally, members of other companies and staffs acted as evaluators. However, for

Sun Eagle Newsletter Apr – Jun 2017

my first ORT majors were imported from the Command and General Staff College as evaluators.

A fellow company commander had an excellent company. On the first day of the ORT as the evaluator hovered over his shoulder, he directed his company to conduct a tactical maneuver. As his troops made their movement, the evaluator asked my friend, “Do you have an SOP?” Of course, a standing operating procedure (SOP) dictates what and how a unit conducts certain maneuvers. My fellow commander answered, “No, I have a B.I.S.S.” The evaluator sagely nodded and they continued the attack.

The same question was asked and the same answer delivered several times over the next two days. Finally, the exasperated evaluator asked, “What the heck is a B.I.S.S.?” My comrade forcefully responded, “Because I said so!”

My comrade’s B.I.S.S. has some parallel with Christ’s approach. First, my friend spent considerable time teaching his subordinate leaders and men on how to react in given situations. Members of his company understood the unwritten procedures of the unit.

Christ spent considerable time teaching not only people who came to hear him preach, but his apostles. Many times, he had to provide them with a private explanation of the parables he had used.

For example, in His parable of the sower, Christ taught of seeds that were sown onto a path, rocky ground, some among thorns, and some onto good ground. Subsequently, he taught his disciples that the seed along the path was soon taken away by Satan, the seed sown in rocky places could develop no roots and, so, would soon die. Other seed sown with the thorns were soon overcome by worries of this life which choked the word making it unfruitful. Finally, seed sown in good soil yielded a great crop of believers.

After teaching these and other lessons, Christ ordered his disciples to spread the gospel. Mark 6:7 tells us that he sent them into the countryside two by two for that purpose.

Christ gave his final orders after his resurrection when He said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28-19-20)

The Apostles had no SOP to follow. Neither did the Apostles have a B.I.S.S. They did have three years of Christ’s teaching and His example to follow, and they had a B.H.S.S. – Because He Said So – to follow. All the Apostles, save one, followed it to the death.

De Oppresso Liber

Bill

-30-

Company Bulletin Board

Chapter BOG Meeting, 22 April, 10:00, Bill Currie Ford Dealership.

D-Day Memorial Banquet, Marriott Westshore, 3 June 2017

“Like us” on Facebook:

101st Airborne Division Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

and Snowbirds Reunion

Sun Eagle Newsletter Apr – Jun 2017

101st Abn Div Assn “Snowbird Reunion”

2017

Beauties & the Beast Airborne!

Beads, Beads, & More Beads

Outback Steak House

Jack Schiffer & Bodyguards

Hospitality Room

Patti, George Buck, & Pat Macri

Paul Teetor & Friends

BG Scotty Brower Something about a man in uniform

Joe Pisano can still bring ‘em in

Vinnie Speranza advising the General

And Even More Beads!

Sun Eagle Newsletter Apr – Jun 2017

The rain was pouring and there was a big puddle in front of the bar just outside the American Legion Post.

A ragged old Army ground pounder was standing near the edge with a fishing line in the puddle.

A curious young Marine fighter pilot came over to him and asked what he was doing.

“Fishing,” the old sergeant simply said.

“Poor old fool,” the Marine officer thought to himself and he invited the old Army soldier into the bar for a drink.

As he felt he should start some conversation while they were sipping their whiskey, the haughty fighter pilot asked, “And how many have you caught today?”

“You’re number ten,” the old Army sergeant answered. “Four Air Force, five Navy, and you’re my first Marine.”

A priest, a minister, and a rabbi want to see who’s best at his job. So each one goes into the woods, finds a bear, and attempts to convert it. Later, they all get together. The priest begins: “When I found the bear, I read to him from the catechism and sprinkled him with holy water. Next week is his first Communion.”

I found a bear by the stream,” says the minister, “and preached God’s holy Word. The bear was so mesmerized that he let me baptize him.”

They both look down at the rabbi, who is lying on a gurney in a body cast. “Looking back,” he says, “maybe I shouldn’t have started with the circumcision.”

Rogue Heroes by

Ben MacIntyre

Reviewed by William C. Bennett

Mr. Ben MacIntyre has written an excellent history of Britain’s Special Air Service (SAS). This is not your dry, dusty history of establishment and dis-establishment of a unit. Rather it traces the SAS from its inception in the imagination of Lieutenant David Sterling.

MacIntyre’s history derives heavily from the War Diary of the SAS regimental archives. Those records coupled with interviews of the few remaining unit veterans results in a history filled with personal anecdotes and accounts of the unit and individual actions.

Assigned to the Commonwealth forces in Egypt during the early days of World War II, David Stirling was one step from being court martialed for malingering. Assigned to “L Detachment” of their special forces he parachuted into enemy territory in North Africa on the unit’s first operation. The jump did not go smoothly. Stirling’s parachute was

damaged during his exit and the chute deployment. He impacted the ground at twice the speed he should have. He badly injured his back and lost feeling in his legs. Many doctors thought he would never walk again.

Stirling did walk again. Still assigned to “L Detachment” he conceived of to an alliance with the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), a reconnaissance unit famous as the “Desert Rats.” This alliance resulted in the long range raids by vehicles for which the SAS became noted. Eventually, the LRDG was incorporated into the SAS. MacIntyre provides unusually detailed personal accounts of the North African raids.

As the war expanded to Sicily, Italy, and on into Western Europe the SAS was required to modify its operations. Though its basic mission profile as a behind-the-lines raiding force remained. Eventually, the widening of the war changed the nature of its operations and led to the unit’s expansion to two squadrons plus a French squadron and incorporation of the Special Boat Service into the regiment. After a short period of inactivity after the war, the SAS was re-activated insuring its post-war survival. Today the SAS is among the most highly respected special mission units in the world.

This was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to any professional soldier, especially those with a special operations lineage.

”Rogue Heroes: The History of the SAS, Britain’s Secret Special Forces Unit That Sabotaged the Nazis and Changed the Nature of War,” Crown Publishing (Penguin Random House), New York, 2016

Bill

© 2017 William C. Bennett

-30-

101st Airborne Division:

The Post-War Years

On 1 August 1945, the 501st PIR was moved to France while the rest of the division was based around Zell am

See and Kaprun in the Austrian Alps. Some units within the division began training for redeployment to the Pacific

Sun Eagle Newsletter Apr – Jun 2017

Theatre of War but the war ended before they were needed. The division was inactivated 30 November 1945. For their efforts during World War II, the 101st Airborne Division was awarded four campaign streamers and two Presidential Unit Citations.

According to the Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953) the 101st Airborne Division total battle casualties were 9,328. Of the total 1,766 were killed in action, 6,388 were wounded in action, 207 were missing in action, and 967 became prisoners of war.

The 101st Airborne was allotted to the Regular Army in June 1948[11] and reactivated as a training unit at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky the following July, only to be deactivated the next year.[11] It was reactivated in 1950 following the outbreak of the Korean War, again to serve as a Training Center at Camp Breckenridge until inactivated in December 1953. During this time it included the 53rd Airborne Infantry Regiment.

It was reactivated again in May 1954 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina[11] and in March 1956, the 101st was transferred, less personnel and equipment, to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to be reorganized as a combat division. Using the personnel and equipment of the 187th ARCT and the 508th ARCT,[28] the 101st was reactivated as the first "pentomic" division with five battle groups in place of its World War II structure that included regiments and battalions.

Civil Rights

The "Little Rock Nine" were a group of African-American students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in September 1957, as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the historic Brown v. Board of Education case. Elements of the division's 1st Airborne Battle Group, 327th Infantry were ordered to Little Rock by President Eisenhower to escort the students into the formerly segregated school during the crisis. The division was under the command of Major General Edwin Walker, who was committed to protecting the black students The troops were deployed from September until Thanksgiving 1957, when Task Force 153rd Infantry, (federalized Arkansas Army National Guard) which had also been on duty at the school since 24 September, assumed the responsibility.

STRAC In 1958 the US Army formed the Strategic Army Corps consisting of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions with a mission of rapid deployment on short notice.

Members of the 101st Airborne escorting the Little Rock Nine to school

Next quarter: The Division deploys to Vietnam.

Article was extracted from Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division#Casualties.

President Bill Ball, VP George Buck, Eddie Pissott, John Taylor, Ben Infuso, Mick Cole, et.al. for planning, organizing, and executing Snowbird

Lee Ball, Doreen Brown, Lois Sewell for Snowbird ticket sales and general support.

Augustino (Augie) Agro

1930-2016

Augie Agro, whose obituary appeared in the July 2016 issue of this publication, was laid to rest in February in the Sarasota National Cemetery. His brother was simultaneously laid to rest. The Chapter Honor Guard conducted the honors.

Augie was very active with both the National Assn and the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter (FLGCC). He was a National Governor and served on several different committees. He served as President of FLGCC, and for many years as a Chapter Governor. He did yeoman’s work on various committees.

Augie loved the 101st and all paratroopers. He is fondly remembered and will be missed.

Sun Eagle Newsletter Apr – Jun 2017

“Where is the prince who can afford so to cover his country with troops for its defence, so that ten thousand

men descending from the clouds might not, in many places, do an infinite deal of mischief before a force

could be brought together to repel them?”

- Benjamin Franklin, 1784

There has been an internet message making the rounds lately; its information is suspect at best. Here is the original email:

From:

Sent: 8 February, 2017 10:50 AM

Subject: FW: [Non-DoD Source] Fwd: CRSC and CRDP.

I just got this from a friend.

The government is trying to take away what is ours. Read the info below and act on it.

Open the attachments and contact your congress rep.

Very disturbing if this proposal passes. Beginning in 2018, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is proposing to eliminate concurrent receipt of retirement pay and disability compensation: Military retirees now drawing CRSC or CRDP would no longer receive these payments, nor would future retirees. As a result, CBO believes federal spending can be cut by $139 billion between 2018 and 2026.

I highly recommend you contact your congressional representative and senator immediately and ask to speak to his/her senior staffer and ask him what your elected official's position is on the CBO proposal to eliminate Concurrent Receipt of Retirement Pay and Disability Compensation for Disabled Veterans. You should strongly voice your opposition to such a proposal and state this clearly would tremendously hurt those who have served their country. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS DON'T SIT ON THE SIDELINE & NOT BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE!!!

Please pass along to all VETs.

I also recommend that you ask the staff member if he/she would provide you with your elected official position in writing via email or letter so you can share his/her position with your friends, colleagues and church family at gatherings and town-halls. Also post the discussion on your social media Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. Contact any organizations you support Wounded

Warriors, Disabled Veterans, and VFW to see what they are doing to fight for us.

When I read the email I was suspicious since I had not heard any rumors from other sources. Consequently, I checked with Chapter member Michael Black who is the National Service Officer/ Region 6 Director American Veterans (AMVETS) National Service Office. Mike sent me the following:

Here is the Bill that is on the Floor that supports the Veterans.

The other Email is only a suggestion. It’s not a Bill and it has not been discussed on the floor or the chamber.

Mike

Congressman Bilirakis’ announcement follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Elena Hernandez January 5, 2017 [email protected], 202-225-5755

Congressman Bilirakis Introduces Bill to Compensate Veterans Fairly

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) introduced the Retired Pay Restoration Act (H.R. 303), legislation allowing Veterans to receive both military retired pay and VA disability compensation. This is the first bill introduced by Bilirakis in the 115th Congress.

“The men and women who dedicated their lives to serving our nation should be compensated fairly for their sacrifices,” said Bilirakis. “I introduced the Retired Pay Restoration Act to ensure that all Veterans who receive retirement payments following their military service can also receive disability payments from the VA. With this bill, we’re making sure Veterans are getting the benefits they have earned and deserve.”

Under current law, many Veterans with service-connected injuries have their disability pay deducted from their retirement pay—even though they are completely different benefits. The Retired Pay Restoration Act would make sure these two benefits do not count against each other.

The legislation will now head to the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee for consideration.

I think we should be alert to the possibility of Congress trying to modify CRSC and/or CRDP, but so far it is little more than a rumor. Kudos to Congressman Bilirakis for his proactive action.

Editor

Sun Eagle Newsletter Apr - Jun 2017

Join Us Saturday, June 3rd

to

Commemorate the 101st D-Day Drop

Marriott Westshore, 1001 N West Shore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607

Cocktails (pay as you go) at 5 PM, Dinner at 6 PM

Menu choice of:

Chicken Piccata

or

Salmon Glaze

Price $ 20.00

Make checks payable to "FGCC 101st ABN ASSN" and mail them to:

Les Colegrove, 3416 Townhouse Court, Tampa, FL 33614

Please RSVP by Saturday, 21 May, to Les Colegrove (813) 230-9667 or [email protected] so we can order the meals.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name

# Chicken Piccata

# Salmon Glaze

Detach and mail with check

502nd PIR Pathfinders