June 2010 www.red-devils.org Vol. 5 No. 2 The 82nd Airborne

June 2010
www.red-devils.org
Vol. 5 No. 2
The 82nd Airborne Division Association National
Convention will be hosted by the West Virginia
All Airborne Chapter August 18 – 21, 2010 at
Charleston, WV. The host hotel is the Marriott,
Charleston Town Center, 200 Lee Street East.
82nd Abn Div Assn group rate $104.94per night
including tax. Parking cost is $8.00 per day in
the Marriott Garage. Hotel contact numbers 800.228.9290 and 304.345.6500. Convention
ad at www.82ndairborneassociation.org and our
website. The Host Chapter Sales Room; the
82nd Abn Div Museum Sales Room and the…
…82nd Abn Div Assn National Sales Room will
be open every day. We look forward to seeing
Charlie and Sandy Wagner. For additional
information you may contact Don Jennings at
Telephone # 304.456.4956 or Email [email protected]
or Barry Hogue at
[email protected]
The 508th Airborne
Chapter plans on hosting a Saturday morning
breakfast for all of our current members and
their ladies. It will be free for 508 members.
Please members notify the Chairman of your
intent to attend the breakfast.
The Support Company 508 ARCT Association
and our 508 Airborne Chapter will meet and
celebrate 22-25 September.
The reunion
planning committee - Jim Strickland, Jud
Haverkost and James Christy met in April at the
Doubletree Hotel in Columbus, Georgia. Jerry
Strickland, Sandra Haverkost and Ken Hamill
attended as guests. The committee selected
the dates for the reunion to be September 22-25,
2010, Arrive on Wednesday and depart Saturday
or sight see Columbus that weekend.
The
Doubletree Columbus Hotel was selected as the
Host Hotel. Room Rate will be $87.00 plus tax
and includes a good breakfast buffet. Hotel
phone number 706-327-6868, rooms are
reserved under “Support Company 508”. The
hotel has shuttle service to and from the airport,
shopping malls, etc. The Hotel was very
impressive, very clean with a bar and restaurant.
The hotel personnel were very polite and
cooperative. A Registration Fee of $20.00 per
member and $10.00 per family member
attending as a guest will be charged. A Support
Company meeting is planned for Thursday
morning, 23 September. A Tour of the National
Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is planned...
…for Thursday afternoon. The Banquet will take
place Thursday evening at the Doubletree Hotel.
We will order off the menu for that function. The
committee met with Fort Benning officials to
coordinate the visit.
The committee was
positive, persuasive and well received by the
Fort Benning representatives. A tour oriented
toward Airborne Infantry is planned for Friday, 24
September at Fort Benning. If planning dates
and the weather holds, we could pin on jump
wings at airborne school graduation.
Fort
Benning will try their best, but cannot guarantee
a bus. The association will continue to work on
getting a bus. The city of Columbus, Georgia
has the only National Civil War Naval Museum.
For civil war historians the prisoner of war camp
at Andersonville, GA is 65 miles away. It also
has the National Prisoner Of War Museum which
covers U.S. history 1775 to the present. The
Support Company 508 ARCT Association has
invited all 508 Chapter members to join them for
this Columbus, GA / Fort Benning Reunion.
Chapter members should contact Ken Hamill at
[email protected] or www.red-devils.org for a
registration form. Let’s go Red Devils, let’s join
in and help them fill up the bus. Airborne!!!
Page 2, Devils Digest, June 2010
Henry Lacey O’Neal Memorial Fund
Donations to the fund so far total $590.00.
Chapter Members have donated $240 and non
member friends and family of Lacy have donated
$350. The Chapter gave matching funds and sent
Ken Glynn $1180 to date. Ken Glynn sent 7
packages to our Red Devils in Afghanistan. Toilet
articles, batteries, canned fruit, sweets and books
were sent. The troopers and leaders who received
our packages have not responded yet. Ken was
hoping to receive suggestions for nice to have
items and additional addresses. Donor funds
remaining after the Red Devils return to Fort Bragg
will be sent to the 508 Family Readiness Group
and/or the Paratrooper Chaplain. Thank you Ken
Glynn and the Orlando Chapter. You are providing
a great service for the 508 Chapter and our
paratroopers in Afghanistan. Thank you donors for
thinking of our Red Devils in harms way in
Afghanistan.
The memorial fund continues Please annotate your check memo line “In Memory
of Henry Lacey O’Neal”, make your check payable
to 508 Airborne Chapter and send it to Frank Seif,
PO Box 1462, Sun City, AZ 85372-1462. I will
keep you informed of the donation effort with
Devils Digest articles each quarter until our Red
Devils return to Fort Bragg.
Memories of Henry Lacey O’Neal
CSM Donald L. Higgs
While in the Panama jungle we had to set up a
defensive perimeter and carry out a guard roster
for everyone to take their turn at guard duty
throughout the night and morning. As you know
Lacey was an early riser and one morning when he
got up he noticed no one was awake pulling guard
duty. In his very own creative way he corrected
the situation by having the two individuals who feel
asleep dig a hole 12 ft by 6 ft and 2 ft deep. While
they were doing this he had the rest of the Platoon
gather around to watch. This corrective training
took about 3 hours which felt like three days. The
scenario was while these two were sleeping in their
concealed fighting position, the enemy sneaked in
during the night and quietly killed everyone. Thus
this hole was to bury the rest of the platoon. As
they dug this hole with shovels, ax and picks,
Lacey instructed the rest of us to write good bye
letters to our loved ones back home. While this…
…was going on Lacey would speak words about
how everyone was let down because they fell
asleep at their post. How families back home lost
loved ones, how we lost fellow Paratroopers, how
sad this was to have taken place, how it could
have been prevented....on and on...etc...etc. really
pulling on the heart strings.....At the end when the
hole was done, lacey gathered everyone around
the hole and said words of prayer. He then
remembered the fallen by calling off each of our
names as he directed each of us to go into the
freshly dug grave. you never seen such a group of
men embrace the moment and reality of this
experience, it was almost like a modern-day "I
LOVE MAN" moment. Regardless, it hit home. All
learned valuable lessons from this teaching
moment that would forever be remembered as we
moved on as leaders. I personally have used this
technique....trust me it works.....thanks lacey for all
the memories.
A patriotic gentleman submitted the following to
the 508 PIR Family and Friends Association and
the 508 Airborne Chapter. Dear Readers: I go to
Normandy quite often with my metal detector. My
particular area of interest is the battle for La Fiere
Bridge and the causeway. I have collected quite a
few spent 30 Cal. shells from this area. Most I find
about 6-8 inches below the earth. If any D-Day vet
or family would like one I would be glad to mail it to
you. I consider the shells pretty special and almost
sacred - if they could only talk...Best, Herb Lahout
Contact information: Email: [email protected] or
telephone 603-616-7991.
Herb Lahout with some of his recently dug up .30 Caliber
rounds and M-1 Garand clips found at Normandy.
Page 3, Devils Digest, June 2010
Herb Lahout searches Normandy pastures
Live .30 caliber rounds
An 8 round clip of M-1 Garand ammunition
Live ammunition and spent brass
Live ammunition, clips & spent shells are displayed
The cows remain contented during the search
Page 4, Devils Digest, June 2010
HILTON HEAD WINTER WEEKEND
By Ken Hamill
We drove down from Atlanta on the last weekend in February. The weather was cool and
Interstate16 was not crowded. We arrived at the
Marriott Resort Hotel around 4:00 PM and were
quickly checked in to our room and unpacked.
We joined several paratrooper couples in the
Hospitality Room (HR). Many beverages and
mixed drinks were available. Ring sandwiches
and snacks were served. The HR served coffee
and a light breakfast each morning and opened
for drinks and snacks when the tour bus returned
to the Hotel. The tour bus departed the hotel at
7:00 AM on Friday for the USMC Boot Camp
graduation at Parris Island, followed by a
Memorial Service at Beaufort National Cemetery
and lunch on your own at historic Bay Street in
Beaufort. The HR served pizza Friday evening.
The tour bus departed the hotel at 9:30 AM on
Saturday for the Mighty 8th Army Air Corps
Museum and lunch on your own at the Museum.
Snacks and beverages were served in the HR
before and after the Banquet. It was a very nice
dinner Saturday evening with welcome remarks
from Jim Andrews, Chairman of the Ben
Vandervoort Chapter and installation of their
Chapter Officers.
Jerry Devlin, author of
Paratrooper introduced the guest speaker
Colonel Brian Mennes, Commander of the 75th
Ranger Regiment. Colonel Mennes stated that
the 75th Ranger Regiment is the only unit to
have troops and units in Afghanistan from day
one to the present. He gave a
stirring account and slide
presentation of Ranger exploits
in Afghanistan. He spoke with
passion and emotion and had
great empathy and pride for his
men. How fortunate we are to
have professional officers like
Colonel Brian Mennes. Brian
played Lacrosse at Army and
graduated from USMA in 1988.
Most of Colonel Menness’s
troop duty has been with the
COL Mennes 82nd and Ranger units…
…He served in the 325 AIR during OIF I in Iraq.
He served as Commander of 1st Battalion, 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade
Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division,
Afghanistan during their first tour there –
Hoooaaah Fury From the Sky. The banquet
ended with a flourish, with guitar accompaniment
and the strong voice leads of Don Van Alstyne
and Steve Frazer, we sang “Blood upon the
Risers”. The words to the song were printed on
the Banquet Program. The lead group sang the
seven verses. We 70 singers in the audience
sang the chorus verse – “Gory, Gory what a hell
of a way to die” “He ain’t gonna jump no more”
Then we all sang “There was blood upon the
risers, there were brains upon the chute”
“Intestines were a dangling from his Paratrooper
suit” “He was a mess, they picked him up, and
poured him from his boots, and he ain’t gonna
jump no more”. It was a good long weekend.
We loved the Marriott Resort Hotel and its
$90+tax per night cost. We had a snack and
drink at their bar. The macaroni and cheese with
lobster at $14 was very good. Bonnie and I did
not make any of the tours. I had graduated from
Parris Island Boot Camp in April 1951 and made
the Mighty 8th AAC Museum tour last year.
Been there, done that and my lady wanted to
see Savannah, so Savannah it was. We had a
lunch at Paula Deen’s, made the reservation at
11:00 AM and ate at 2:30 PM. It was good! We
toured the City Visitors Center with its movie and
museum, shopped the City Market and took a
bus tour of Savannah. It is a beautiful city and is
very well organized to handle the tourists. I look
forward to attending the Hilton Head Island
Winter gathering during the last weekend of
February 2011.
L-R New Vandervoort Chapter Officers – Bob
Holly, Jim Andrews, Rusty Coleman, Jerry Devlin,
Joe Spingler & Mike Williams with Bill Eberle
Page 5, Devils Digest, June 2010
Ray and Shirley Henry
Ron De Mello and Charlie Stigelmire
Ron and Arlene Allen
Mary Anne and George Zablocki
Don and Cecelia Van Alstyne
Don Van Alstyne, Santiago Tejerina & Tom Graham
Page 6, Devils Digest, June 2010
Leon Peine
Dave and Jo Foy
Karen and Ken Sullivan
Frank Dochniak
Kimberly Buck and Rich Becker
Charlie and Nancy Richman
Page 7, Devils Digest, June 2010
Barbara and Bill Eberle
Steve Frazer
Gene and Joyce Clark
Sylvia and Dave Loveland
Bryan and Marjorie Puffinburger
Doneva Wolf
Page 8, Devils Digest, June 2010
Santiago and Jeanne Tijerina
Ron Mitrook and Barbara Eberle
Hal Roed
Santiago Tijerina and Bruce Potts
Mike Brownridge and Tom Graham
Tom Ingram, Dave Foy & Dave Loveland
Page 9, Devils Digest, June 2010
STATIC LINE AWARDS
I did not attend the Static Line Awards 7-10 April
at the Atlanta Marriott Airport Hotel this year. I
did attend the Airborne Awards Festival at Fort
Benning on Friday. We got to see airborne
school demonstrations, including an on the
ground opening function of the new T-11 chute.
There were speakers and memorial services, a
BBQ luncheon and a great visit to the National
Infantry Museum.
An experienced First
Sergeant was a guide for our group. He gave a
running account of what we were seeing in the
museum and related those combat sights and
sounds to historical facts and battles. I met
several old friends and took several dozen
photos. Bill Patenaude was my point man when
I was a Rifle Platoon Sergeant in Delta Co., 3rd
Bn., 503 Inf., 173d Airborne Brigade., VN.
508 PIR WWII vets Norb Studelska, Rock Merritt
& Bob Speers with Dick O’Donnell of the Family &
Friends of the 508 PIR Association
President Bill Eberle with Past Pres Rich Becker
Ken Hamill & Bill Patenaude at the 173d Memorial
SGT Petty & SSG Ruiz 1-508 Afghanistan Veterans
SGT Petty & SSG Ruiz 1-508 Afghanistan Veterans
Ellen Peters of Family & Friends 508 PIR Assn.
Page 10, Devils Digest, June 2010
Boston Boomerang C-47A at Fort Benning
Memorial Stone C-47A 1944 - 1970
Darrell F. Branstetter, Old Time Sky Diver
34 Foot Tower at Fort Benning
250 Foot Tower at Fort Benning
SGT Petty 1-508 Afghanistan Veteran
Page 11, Devils Digest, June 2010
Airborne School Demonstrations, Fort Benning
Airborne School Demonstrations, Fort Benning
Airborne School Demonstrations, Fort Benning
Airborne School Demonstrations, Fort Benning
Airborne School Demonstrations, Fort Benning
Airborne School Demonstrations, Fort Benning
Page 12, Devils Digest, June 2010
Airborne School Demonstrations, Fort Benning
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
Airborne School Demonstrations, Fort Benning
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
Page 13, Devils Digest, June 2010
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
Page 14, Devils Digest, June 2010
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
Page 15, Devils Digest, June 2010
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
Russell A. Wolfe – Association Director
T-11 Parachute Demonstration
Airborne Walk Bleachers
Ernie Johnson & Bill Patenaude
Lucky Nero Tucker centered in blue
Page 16, Devils Digest, June 2010
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Page 17, Devils Digest, June 2010
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Watching Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Bob Timian Atlanta Chapter Chairman
Coordinating Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
Page 18, Devils Digest, June 2010
Airborne Walk Bleachers
Distinguished Guests Seating Area
Clockwise from front left – Bob Speers,
Norb Studelska, Rock Merritt & Dick O’Donnell
Airborne Walk
Airborne Walk
Seating Area Distinguished Guests. MG Ferriter,
CG, Maneuver Center of Excellence spoke.
Page 19, Devils Digest, June 2010
The 507th PIR now the Airborne School Cadre
Reenactors wearing the old brown Corcoran Boots
The 507th PIR formed at the Airborne Walk
Watching the Ceremonies at Airborne Walk
The Parachute Riggers still wear Red Hats
The 507th PIR assembled at the Airborne Walk
Page 20, Devils Digest, June 2010
Airborne Walk Fort Benning during ceremonies
Airborne Walk Fort Benning during ceremonies
Airborne Walk Fort Benning during ceremonies
Michael Montie at 173 Memorial Work in Progress
Airborne Walk Fort Benning during ceremonies
Ernie Johnson & Bill Patenaude by Museum
Page 21, Devils Digest, June 2010
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
508 AIRBORNE CHAPTER
Ken Hamill
2207 Coventry Drive
Columbus, GA 31904-5034
Telephone: 706.327.3207
E: [email protected]
James H. Moore, AAM, Columbus, OH
C Co, 508 ARCT 1951-53, 19 Feb 2010
Armando Oritz, AAM 1SG Funk Chapter
C Co. 1-508 PIR 82nd 1944-45, 15 Jun 2006
CPT Paul W. Pena, KIA Afghanistan
A Co. 2-508 PIR 82nd Abn Div, 19 Jan 2010
Fayette O. Richardson, Brooklyn, NY
H Co, 508 PIR WWII, 26 Mar 2010
SSG William D. Ricketts, KIA Afghanistan
B/1-508 & B/3-504 PIR 82nd 27 Feb 2010
NEW ANNUAL MEMBERS
CHAIRMAN
Frank Seif
PO Box 1462
Sun City, AZ 85372-1462
Telephone: 623.875.9016
E-Mail: [email protected]
TREASURER
Ken Glynn
836 Glendale Street
Lakeland, FL 33803
Telephone: 863.682.3382
[email protected]
QUARTERMASTER
TAPS - 508th PARATROOPERS
RECENTLY DECEASED
Thomas S. Beno, Manteno, IL
G Co. 508 PIR WWII, 13 May 2010
Leavy Brock Sr, Greenville, NC
K Co. 508 ARCT 1951-53, 28 July 2009
Wilfred J.A. Charette(Squeak)AAM Tampa, FL
E Co, 508 ARCT 1954-56, 9 May 2010
Charles B. Gordon AAM, Clayton, NC
G Co, 508 ARCT 1955-56, 8 Jan 2010
SPC Jason M. Johnston, KIA Afghanistan
B Co. 2-508 PIR, 82nd Abn Div, 26 Dec 2009
Arthur D. Kidder, AAM, Lebanon, NH
D Co, 508 ARCT 1951-54, 8 Apr 2010
Henry E. LeFebvre, Balboa, CA
A Co, 508 PIR WWII, 18 Apr 2010
Thomas McKnight Jr. Fayetteville, NC
HHC, 508 ARCT 1952-54, 10 Dec 2009
Albert T. Cobb, Jr, Lehigh Acres, FL
H Co & Hq2, 508 ARCT 1954-56
Joe Dantonio, St. Petersburg, FL
Easy Company, 508 ARCT 1951-54
NEW ALL AMERICAN LIFE MEMBERS
Elwood R. Coleman, Jr. Slidell, LA
C, B, A, & HQ Companies 1-508 1965-86
Francis X. Synnamon, Mohnton, PA
A Company 2-508 PIR 1965-67
Walter Van Coppenolle, Sebastion, FL
HQ Company 1-508 ARCT 1951-53
Annual Members …63
Affiliate Members.. 10
All Americans… ...305
Total Members.….378
APRIL 2010 TREASURERS REPORT
Opening Balance Checking.…….……$3449.85
Opening Balance Money Market.……$6000.00
Opening Balance ………..……………$9449.85
Receipts ……….…………...…… ….$2929.00
Expenses……………………...……...…$2338.77
Ending Balance Checking...………….$4040.08
Ending Balance CD……………………$6000.00
Ending Balance ………....…………...$10040.08
Annual Members with expired memberships
are asked to send their dues to our
Treasurer, PO Box 1462, Sun City, AZ 853721462. All American Membership will cost
$100.00 if you are 50 years of age or older.
All American Membership is good for life in
the 508th Airborne Chapter and the 82nd
Airborne Division Association.
Page 22, Devils Digest, June 2010
I received a call from Bob Figueredo of
Cohasset, MA and D Company, 508 ARCT 195153. Bob informed me of the death of Arthur D.
Kidder from Lebanon, NH and D Co. 508 ARCT
1951-54.
Mrs Kidder wanted the military
associations to know of the loss of her husband
who was always very proud of his military service,
so she called Bob. Bob should feel very good that
he took the time a couple years ago to look up and
contact Arthur Kidder. Mrs Lois Kidder has the
family support of 5 children, 11 grandchildren & 7
great grandkids. The message here is contact
your old friends while you can.
I spoke to Ray Hanson of Auburn, MA and India
Company, 508 ARCT 1954-56. Ray was a 60mm
mortar gunner, his squad leader was CPL Staples,
Platoon Sgt was MSG Gonzales, XO was LT
Labrozzi. His excellent First Sgt was Strebe with 5
combat jumps who became 3rd Bn SGM. MSG
Caldwell became first shirt. He remembers LT
Love, jumping on Mori DZ, the good people of
Beppu, the Trumi Hotel and a nearby Kobe
steakhouse for $2 and being proud of his outfit. He
mentioned Bob Garrett of 2nd or 3rd Rifle Platoon.
The messhall had good chow and a first cook was
a drinker. He started out in the 11th Abn Div and
asked to go to the 508. He was discharged in
1956 returned to Millbury, MA and married in 1957.
He has 3 sons and 6 grandchildren. He owned a
Bakery Delivery Franchise until he retired in 1998.
Then worked 25 hours a week for Lab Corp until
he retired in 2008 and moved to Auburn, MA. Ray
and his wife enjoy retirement and travel. They fly
and take cruises in near waters, the Caribbean and
Europe.
I heard from Allan G. Wood of Spokane, WA and
G Co. 508th PIR WWII, he was selected to be on
the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. and the
National Mall on 7 July. It is wonderful that our
veterans who saved the world in WWII are now
being recognized. Throngs of people go to the
Airport to greet these veterans on their return flight
from D.C. We hope to get some feedback for an
honor flight article after the trip. Congratulations
Allan, please enjoy your flight and your special day
of recognition. Allan is also our Chapter’s oldest
member. Allen was born on 27 June 1921.
I heard from Jim Miles. It was 56 years ago that I
reported for duty with A Co 508th ARCT at Ft
Campbell - straight from 16 weeks of basic at Ft
Knox. We were still in the old wooden barracks
and there were only a handful of troops in A Co.
Sgt Henry Belton was my squad ldr. I believe
Edwards was our 1SG and 1LT Mendoza was CO.
As the company filled up, a lot of Korean War
vets, we moved to the new concrete block
buildings. I completed jump school July 3, 1954.
MG Wayne C. Smith pinned on our jump wings.
My first time ever in an airplane C-119. I forget
the number of times I took off and never
experienced landing. Both trips overseas on troop
ships. I flew back from Germany 11th ABD in 58 in
an old prop job that was my first plane to land in. I
reupped for Ft Campbell and the 101st. MG
Westmoreland was CG. Those were the days.
One of my close buddies was Robert D. Plato from
Oklahoma we went to jump school together and
made PFC at about the same time. I learned years
later that he was KIA in Nam a MSG at the time.
During my 3rd tour in Nam 70-71 Belton was SGM
of D Co 5th SFGA at Can Tho. I was retired from
the Texas State Guard in 2007 and breveted to full
colonel and assigned to the honorary reserves.
Col. Jim Miles, TXSG (Ret)
I Heard from PJ Harvey Oropeza of Miami,
Florida and H&H Co, 508 ARCT 1954 – 56. PJ
was in the 188 PIR of the 11th Abn Div, went to
Jump School at Fort Campbell in late 1954, and
then volunteered for Japan with the 508. He
worked in H&H Admin when not playing football.
He played guard on offense and defense. He
remembers coach CPT Garrison as a good man
and good person. He was assigned to 501st
Signal Bn after we reformed the 101st. He got out
in 1957, returned to Key West, FL and worked 45
years for Southern Bell Telephone Company. He
became an aviation pilot in 1958 and is now a flight
instructor.
A.Thies sent the following: I was watching a DDay program. Part of it told about the 508th's
mission. Toward the end, a song was played.
"we are the men of the 508th Parachute Infantry".
I would like to find that song if possible. Any help
will be appreciated. “Fury From The Sky”.
Page 23, Devils Digest, June 2010
Name: ___________________________ Address: ______________________________________________
City: ____________________________________ State: ____________ Zip: _________________________
Quartermaster Sales Form----(Members Only)
Complete this form and mail your check payable to Kenneth Glynn along with your name and address in the box above to:
Ken Glynn, 836 Glendale St., Lakeland, FL. 33803-4122
Please include shipping and handling charges in the amount column to the right of each item ordered.
ITEM/DESCRIPTION
QTY
SIZE (CIRCLE)
COST
SHIPPING/HANDLING
Hat, White, Maroon Bill, Chap Logo, Embroidered
One Size Fits All
$14.50
$1.50 Each
Hat, White, Maroon Bill, Chap Logo, Screened
One Size Fits All
$12.00
$1.50 Each
Sweatshirt, Grey, Chapter Logo, Screened
M L XL *XXL *XXXL
$22.00
$3.50 + $2 Each Additional
Sweatshirt, White, Chapter Logo, Screened
M L XL *XXL *XXXL
$22.00
$3.50 + $2 Each Additional
Shirt, T, White, Chapter Logo, Screened
M L XL *XXL *XXXL
$12.00
$2.00 Each
Shirt, Polo, Abn Maroon, Chap Logo Embroidered
M L XL *XXL *XXXL
$22.00
$3.50 + $1.00 Each Additional
Patch, 508th Abn Chapter (See 1, Below)
$5.50
$1.00 Each (3/$1.50)
Patch, 508th ARCT (See 1, Below)
$5.50
$1.00 Each (3/$1.50)
Patch, Para Red Devil (See 1, Below)
$5.50
$1.00 Each (3/$1.50)
Patch, 320th Abn FA Bn.
$5.50
$1.00 Each (3/$1.50)
Pin, 508th ARCT
$3.00
No Charge
Pin, Para Red Devil
$3.00
No Charge
*= Add an additional $2.00 for each X above XL (XXXL size is a special order)
1= All patches can be purchased 3 for $15.00 + Shipping and Handling.
PLEASE ALLOW 2-4 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY
AMOUNT
TOTAL $
Operation Market Garden
This past April as part of a European vacation I
toured the World War II battlefields in the
Arnhem area of Holland. This was the scene of
the September, 1944 attempt to capture the
Arnhem Bridge over the Rhine River. It was
called Operation Market Garden and was
documented in the book and movie titled, “A
Bridge Too Far”.
Although the fighting in this
area was done by the First British Airborne
Division, the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions
were part of this operation, battling to secure
bridges that were behind enemy lines with the
objective to eventually link up to the British at the
Arnhem Bridge. It was the largest airborne
assault of all time. Unfortunately, casualties
were high and the link up was not successful - it
was a bridge too far. After visiting the Airborne
Museum in Oosterbeek that provides many
details and artifacts of the fight (picture
attached), I went to the cemetery where the dead
from that battle are buried. Each September
local children come and place flowers at all the
gravesites, and then greet the many veterans
that return for this ceremony. Although it
happened many years ago the people here
never forget the sacrifices made by so many
young allied paratroopers.
Bill Domjan of
Melville, NY and A Co, 508 ARCT 1951-54
Bill Domjan at Airborne Memorial Oosterbeek, Holland
Family and Friends of the 508th PIR Association
Reunion 68th Anniversary of the 508th PIR
Stand Up Open to 508th Veterans of all eras
October 20 – 24, 2010 Oklahoma City, OK
Sheraton Hotel 405.235.2780 Mention Family
& Friends of the 508 for Group Rate of $84
Details and Registration at: www.508pir.org
or call Dick O’Donnell at 321.759.6174
Ken Hamill, Chairman
508 Airborne Chapter
2207 Coventry Drive
Columbus, GA 31904-5034
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (PLEASE PRINT)
508th Airborne Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Association
All American
Renewal
New Member
Reinstatement
Enclosed $15.00 for my annual dues for the year ____________ which includes Paraglide subscription.
Name: ____________________________________ Street: ______________________________________________
City: _________________________________________________ State: ________ Zip Code: _________________
Telephone Number: _________________________________ E-Mail: ______________________________________
Last Rank Held: _________________________
508th Unit (Fill In)
Major Unit (Select One)
193rd Inf Bde: ____
Serial Number: __________________________________________
Company: ____________
Battery: ____________
2nd Abn Inf Bde: _______
Golden Bde: _______
82nd Abn Div: _______
SETAF: _______
Battalion: ____________
508th ARCT: _______
173rd Abn Bde: _______
Dates of 508th Service: From: Month: _______ Year: _______
To: Month: _______ Year: _______
Present
Spouse’s
# of
Occupation: _______________________ Single: ___ Married:___ Name: ______________ Children: ______
PLEASE MAIL TO: 508th Airborne Chapter, P. O. Box 1462, Sun City, AZ 85372-1462
National Association requires rank, serial number and copy of DD214 or orders
indicating the award of the Parachutist Badge from initial applicants.
*** $8 Affiliate Members Only: I am presently a member of the _______________________________ Chapter
I do / do not want to transfer to the 508 Chapter. Signature: _________________________________________