12- Importance of completing the 2012 member survey [16:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We want to wish all our members a Happy New Year for 2012!

In this episode, we deliver to you an audio dialogue with the past Vice-Chairman of the Alamo Chapter, Matt Rayson.  Now,  this dialogue was recorded in a casual manner in a restaurant (and we apologize for the ambient noise in the background).

We want to share this with our members. The key topic of this conversation revolves around the project that was started in 2011 in which we are trying to get the members more involved by participation in the chapter activities.

In order to do this,  we created a survey of 8 questions(which takes no more than 5 minutes to complete) and we have sent this survey via US Postal Mail to all of our members. In case you have not yet taken the survey, we have included in this post the pdf files for both the survey and the schedule and location of the meetings for 2012, along with the newsletter for December, 2012.

Here is the link for the pdf of the newsletter and 2012 meeting schedule:

_________________________________________________________

Here is the link for the pdf of the Survey:

2012 Survey for the Alamo Chapter of the 82nd Abn. Div. Association

We would like to emphasize the importance of completing the survey and returning it to us by Monday, 31 January 2012. We will then compile the results, then publish them and deliver them to the members at the meetings on 11 February 2012 in Austin, as well as 10 March 2012 in San Antonio.

We would also like to thank very much Terese Morgan, who is Matt Rayson’s significant-other, for it was she who helped to create the first draft of integrated list and roster for the initial mailing.

As you will see in the survey document, we welcome all your recommendations and suggestions, as well as your comments and feedback to improve the chapter and make it of great value for all the members.

Copyright (c ) 2012, 82nd Airborne Division Association, Alamo Chapter. All rights reserved.

The Alamo Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association celebrated Veterans’ Day during the weekend of November 11th-12th both in Austin and San Antonio by participating in the Parades and Ceremonies.

VETERANS’ DAY PARADE AND MEMORIAL DEDICATION:

In Austin, we had members Matt Ryan, Dennis Dezso,  Roger Gilmore and Fred Castaneda march in the parade and participate in the ceremonies by laying the wreath of the 82nd Airborne Division Association at the foot of the mock-up tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol building after the ceremony of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

In addition, on November 12th, Matt Rayson, Dennis Dezso and Fred Castaneda participated in the dedication ceremony of the Veterans Memorial at Cedar Park, Texas.

Matt Rayson, Dennis Deszo and Fred Castaneda  give thanks to a WWII Paratrooper

at the Dedication of the Cedar Park, TX, Veterans’ Memorial

SAN ANTONIO VETERANS’ DAY PARADE

Also, in San Antonio on Saturday, 12 November 2011, Senior member Darrell G. Harris drove his roadster in the Veterans’ Day Parade there (the 3rd largest parade in San Antonio).

ALAMO CHAPTER  SUPPORTS BOY SCOUT TROOP 8787

In the participation of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association for Community Service,  Boy Scout Troop 8787 participated in a Community Service event at the October, 2011 meeting at VFW Post 8787 in Austin. Along with the joint cooperation of the Austin Chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s  Association, the scouts and leaders donned woodland BDU shirts, then helmet, then a real T-10 parachute and reserve. Then they “hooked up” to a cable in a mock door of an aircraft and “stood in the door” before leaping all of 1 inch from the ground. (Our thanks to Matt Rayson for building the “aircraft door” for this event, as well as the past support for the American Heroes Celebration / Muster Day at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas, in April 2011.)

With their parents taking photos of the scouts, they were then awarded a professional certificate of participation, as well as a miniature set of novice Airborne Wings–i.e., like the ones earned by US Paratroopers.  Yes, Boy Scout Troop 8787 was “adopted” by the 82nd Airborne Division  Association Alamo chapter, and we will be supporting them when they put out the flags on the Veterans’ graves in preparation for Memorial Day Ceremonies in May, 2012, at the Pflugerville, TX, cemetery (in which we will be represented in the ceremonies).

CIB CHAPTER TO WELCOME NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

This 82nd Airborne Division Association Alamo Chapter also looks forward to the visit of National Executive Director, Santiago Tijerina,  in April, 2012, as we will be participating with the parachute-donning fundraiser at the American Heroes’ Celebration / Muster Day activities in Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas, on April 21st and 22nd in 2012.

Remember:  Trooper Tijerina will be the first to don the parachute in support of the chapter.

NEW OFFICERS FOR THE CHAPTER

At our December meeting on 10 December 2011, the Alamo Chapter swore in Don Bailey as the new Secretary-Treasurer.

However, due to personal emergency and hardship, Walt Weaver and Al Pike were not available to be sworn in at the event as Vice-Chairman and Trustee, respectively.  We will be installing these new officers at a later meeting in person. Our congratulations to the new officers for 2012.

Note: Fred Castaneda will continue as interim Chairman of the Chapter until a successor for 2012 is elected and installed.

Copyright (c) 2011, 82nd Airborne Division Association and Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

 Don Bailey gets his CIB in Opn. Urgent Fury in Grenada [49:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the Alamo Chapter podcast of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, we continue our interview series with soldiers who have earned their CIBs in various campaigns of the 20th Centrury. We are especially fortunate to have interviewed Don W. Bailey, a combat infantryman who was also an AIRBORNE PARATROOPER in the 82nd Airborne Division during his 21 years of service.

Don Bailey participated as a combat infantryman during the Grenada Campaign in 1983- also known as “Operation Urgent Fury.”

As you will hear in this audio episode, there is a cross-reference to an earlier podcast episode for the CIB (episode 23, earlier) that dealt with the audio version of the VFW Magazine article titled “The Battle for Grenada – the Army Reborn.” In particular, Don Bailey affirms the different types of snafus that occured during the week-long campaign. And that included the communications incompatibility problems, the inter-branch rivalries between different branches of the military, and the lack of sophisticated military intelligence.

However, one thing was certain — the fact that these Airborne Infantrymen from the 82nd Airborne Division (as well as the Ranger Bn. and others who fought in this campaign) went into harm’s way. Case in point– as you can see from the photo below, there were casualties that result from hostile fire from the Cubans, Russian advisors and other enemy in this small island, and, yes, our men did go into harm’s way.

From a publication of the 82nd Airborne Division in Grenada, we are told that the first 2 KIAs from the 82nd Airborne during the assault came from B Co. 2nd Bn, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Don Bailey, our interviewee, was in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He was a team leader that followed his orders, took care of his men and accomplished the mission.

Although this interview is 45 minutes long, it is extremely informative and interesting–from the point of view of a paraticipant combat infantryman. A couple of things you may note from the audio episode–

- The media and press tried to show only the negative side against the US and did not support the mission;

- This was the first time that the 82nd Airborne Division infantry utilized the kevlar helmets, after they had given up their prior steel pot helmtes that were previously used during Vietnam); and

- This was the first time that a combat campaign utilized the Blackhawk helicopters for transporting infantry troops to make contact with sighted enemy:   for instance, the 82nd Airborne Infantry soldiers would be transported by helicopter to engage the enemy when sighted on another part of the island.

And finally, Don Bailey also mentions the welcomed support from the local people of Grenada with the 82nd Airborne troops.

All in all, we thank Don Bailey for his service and for his participation in the Battle for Grenada.

Airborne! All the Way!

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights reserved.

 

 Duane Williams interview [1:17:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this repurposed episode of the Alamo Chapter’s podcast of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, we have an extended interview with a veteran 82nd Airborne paratrooper who earned his CIB in one campaign, but then served in another campaign in the following year halfway around the world.

Image of CIB

For Duane Williams, earning a CIB as an Airborne Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division meant that he went into harm’s way during the night parachute jump under fire in Panama. And just 8 months later, he found himself in the Middle East on the Kuwaiti border with Saudi Arabia. He was one of the 82nd Airborne Division troopers who helped to “draw a line in the Sand” and not allow the invasion of the Iraqi army into Arabia.

The interview is a bit longer than others, but it is because we explore Duane Williams’s pariticipation in both campaigns–

- Operation Just Cause (airborne assault into Panama); and

- Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm (assault on Iraq to push the forces of Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait).

For the 8 years that Duane spent with the 82nd Airborne Division as a squad leader and airborne infantryman, the real moment of pride, honor, remembrance for those who were KIA or wounded, and accomplishment came with the award of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge after the operation in Panama.

In this audio episode, you will experience the preparedness that Duane Williams felt as he got ready for the deployment. You will feel the fear that went through his mind–just as it has for every combat infantryman–and you will rejoice in the elation of the pride, honor, strength and self-confidence that Duane had after he returned from his mission.

But Duane also goes into detail about his participation in the deserts of Kuwait and Iraq as the 82nd Airborne Division pitted itself agains the 4th largest army in the world at that time–Hussein’s Iraqi armored forces. The “Line in the Sand” that was drawn by the first troops to deploy to Arabia–the 82nd Airborne Division–meant that not one inch of ground would be given up while the rest of the Allied forces arrived by air-landing. This meant the rest of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airmobile Division, the rest of the Army and the Marines, etc.

As you will listen to Duane recount the story of the assault on Panama, you will realize that this was the last combat parachute jump — and airborne assault– in which the 82nd Airborne Division participated. Duane’s pride and courage are also reflected by the gold star that he wears on the canopy of his parachutist jump wings, which signifies that he participated in a combat parachute jump.

We thank Duane for his service and for being such a great role model today (as a law enforcement officer) for young paratroopers everywhere that earn their CIB in the campaigns today.

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights reserved.

 

 Interview with DG Harris [43:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this repurposed episode of the 82nd Airborne Division Association Alamo Chapter podcast, we are fortunate to deliver an interview with Darrell G. Harris, who was one of the first paratroopers to earn the CIB (Combat Infantryman’s Badge) in World War II.

(Please Note: this interview was conducted in July of 2008 and it was originally for the CIB Association podcast at http://www.cibaustin.org.)

Darrell was part of the 504th PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment) of the 82nd Airborne Division for most of his tour in the European campaign. He was an COMBAT AIRBORNE INFANTRYMAN, a demolition specialist Infantryman who was a parachutist who made 3 combat parachute jumps in Europe. He is also one of the charter members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association–as he joined it in France in 1945, before he had come back home to the USA after the War.

The picture, below, shows Darrell G. Harris today, wearing his 82nd Airborne Division Association vest and hat.  He is also wearing the medallion for WWII Veterans that he received in Washington, D.C. at the Inauguration of the WWII Memorial. Notice that his parachutist wings (that is, his “jump wings“) are worn above the CIB. This shows the common way that the CIB was worn in World War II by the Combat Infantrymen, as shown below:

Darrell mentioned that it was common practice in those days to always wear the paratrooper airborne wings above the ribbons, and the CIB (which was first initiated in 1943) was usually worn beneath the ribbons–totally the opposite of today. For the current regulations specify that the CIB is always above the ribbons–even the ribbon of the Congressional Medal of Honor. In fact, Darrell described Colonel Tucker, his commander, wearing the CIB and the jump wings in his dress uniform–especially how the CIB was worn under the Jump Wings and ribbons.

Contrast this with the modern day (circa 1970′s, during the Vietnam War), when the CIB is worn as the highest badge above any and all ribbons, and even above the Jump wings.

For most of his European tour of duty (3 years), Darrell was part of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which has the nickname of “Devils in Baggy Pants.”

In the podcast episode, Darrell describes his friends and comrades-in-arms during the Market Garden Operation. In his book, Darrell includes a copy of a photo taken in 1944, and D.G. is the soldier on the far left. Sadly, the other two troopers were killed in action in Europe and during the Battle of the Bulge. Please see, below, for more information about his book.

In the podcast episode, Darrell describes how he captured his memoirs in a short book that he wrote called Casablanca to VE Day – A Paratrooper’s Memoirs.

If you wish to order copies of the book, here are the 2 ways to do so:

(1) For the AUDIO version of the book (now on PremiumCast.com) where you can have the audio narration downloaded directly to your mp3 player via ITunes:

go to:  http://www.premiumcast.com/A-Paratroopers-Memoirs

and the price is just $7. US Dollars payable via Paypal.

(2) For the paperback version of the book,

please contact D. G. Harris at telephone (210) 342-2591.

The three “firsts” of which Darrell G. Harris was involved make him truly a man of history:

- He was one of the first paratroopers in the U.S. Airborne (the Airborne units were first created in 1940, and Darrell was in the first all-paratrooper unit, the 82nd Airborne Division since 1942:

- He was one of the first Infantrymen in World War II to earn the CIB (Combat Infantryman’s Badge):

Image of CIB

- He was one of the very first members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association (a charter member who joined while still in France in 1945).

Darrell is currently the Secretary of the San Antonio Alamo Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. Darrell, we salute you!

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation

 

 A chat with Santiago Tijerina [30:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the 82nd Airborne Division Association-Alamo Chapter Podcast and blog, we deliver to you a discussion and interview conducted by Fred Castaneda, Chairman of the Alamo Chapter, with our National Executive Director, Santiago Tijerina. This chat was conducted over the telephone, as we could not have Santiago in our studio. We thank him for agreeing to this interview when we last saw him in person at the Houston, Texas, Southwest All-Airborne Days conference in June of 2011.

As you will hear in this audio episode, Santiago discusses with us some common obstacles and challenges that face many Veteran chapters today. As an experienced leader and his past contributions and accomplishments in the Indiana area, where he was a chapter Chairman, Santiago shares with us some suggestions and recommendations that helped bring his chapter to a great success–even hosting a National Convention.

You will also hear his three-year plan for getting the Association modernized and automated, so that our members can benefit from technology and social networks. This should help us to improve our delivery of information in the future.

One key idea stated in the interview is that the officers of the chapters should feel willing to talk to Santiago by seeking his advice and counsel. Remember–he has been successful in growing a chapter in the past. Then we suggest that you put a plan in place to address the challenges of today for your chapter, and review them with him.

Case in point: our Alamo Chapter in Texas just had the first teleconference call with Santiago, and all the officers participated–some remotely–via telephone. What he delivered to us was a “template” of action items and plans for us to take forward, customize to our situation and move forward to successful implementation (and chapter growth).

Santiago’s past leadership–both in the military and in civilian life after he left the US Army–is given in detail in his biography. Click here to get his bio.

Our chapters can learn a lot from past successes, and we should improve our communication with other chapters and regions, so that we can collaborate and share.

To contact Santiago, you can send him email at:

82dassn@earthlink.net

or give him a phone call at:  (910) 223-1182 (yes, there had to be an “82″ in the number!)

or you can go to the Association web site at:

http://www.82ndairborneassociation.org

We thank you for your support.

Fred Castaneda, Chairman, Alamo Chapter in Texas

Copyright (c) 2011, Matrix Solutions Corporation and the 82nd Airborne Division Association. All rights reserved.

 

 Reenactment event honors DG Harris [5:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Alamo Chapter, podcast, we deliver to you the details surrounding the recognition and honor given to our chapter Secretary-Treasurer, Darrell G. Harris, at the Muster Day / American Heroes Celebration Event at Camp Mabry on 16 April 2011, just before the Reenactment of a WW II battle that took place in Southern France in 1944.

Darrell G. Harris, a veteran who made 3 combat parachute jumps with the 82nd Airborne Division, and who also fought in the Battle of the Bulge and the Anzio beach landing.

He describes in detail his experiences for 3 years in Europe during WWII. He also describes his book, Casablanca to VE-Day: A Paratrooper’s Memoirs, which is a journal of his 3 combat jumps, his beach landing in Anzio and his struggle in the Battle of the Bulge.

————-

YOUTUBE VIDEO SHOWS D.G. HARRIS AND THE REENACTMENT

There is a YouTube video that shows the introduction and honor given to DG Harris prior to the Reenactment of the Battle that took place in Southern France in 1944, in which the 36th Infantry Division was involved. You can see the video at:

http://bit.ly/muSd8c

In this video, DG Harris tells a tale of ironic humor that occurred in a combat zone. This is one of the funniest incidents that took place in WW II.

——————-

DETAILS SURROUNDING D.G. HARRIS, HIS LEADERS  AND HIS EXPERIENCES

Darrell was part of the 504th PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment) of the 82nd Airborne Division for most of his tour in the European campaign. He was an COMBAT AIRBORNE INFANTRYMAN, a demolition specialist Infantryman who was a parachutist who made 3 combat parachute jumps in Europe. He is also one of the charter members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association–as he joined it in France in 1945, before he had come back home to the USA after the War.

The picture, below, shows Darrell G. Harris today, wearing his 82nd Airborne Division Association vest and hat.  He is also wearing the medallion for WWII Veterans that he received in Washington, D.C. at the Inauguration of the WWII Memorial. Notice that his parachutist wings (that is, his “jump wings“) are worn above the CIB. This shows the common way that the CIB was worn in World War II by the Combat Infantrymen, as shown below:

Darrell mentioned that it was common practice in those days to always wear the paratrooper airborne wings above the ribbons, and the CIB (which was first initiated in 1943) was usually worn beneath the ribbons–totally the opposite of today. For the current regulations specify that the CIB is always above the ribbons–even the ribbon of the Congressional Medal of Honor. In fact, Darrell described Colonel Tucker, his 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Commander, wearing the CIB and the jump wings in his dress uniform–especially how the CIB was worn under the Jump Wings and ribbons.

Contrast this with the modern day (circa 1970′s, during the Vietnam War), when the CIB is worn as the highest badge above any and all ribbons, and even above the Jump wings–as you can see from this photo of Fred Castaneda, as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division after his tour in Vietnam where he earned the CIB:

For most of his European tour of duty (3 years), Darrell was part of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which has the nickname of “Devils in Baggy Pants.” This is the Regiment insignia:

In  podcast episode number 12 of the CIB Association Austin Chapter, Darrell describes his friends and comrades-in-arms during the Market Garden Operation. In the image, below, Darrell is the soldier on the far left. Sadly, the other two troopers were killed in action in Europe and during the Battle of the Bulge.

In the above mentioned podcast episode number 12 at http://www.cibaustin.org, Darrell describes how he captured his memoirs in a short book that he wrote called Casablanca to VE Day – A Paratrooper’s Memoirs:

To read the back cover of the book, click here to see the pdf document .

If you wish to order copies of the book, here are the 2 ways to do so:

(1) For the AUDIO version of the book (now on PremiumCast.com) where you can have the audio narration downloaded directly to your mp3 player via ITunes:

go to:  http://www.premiumcast.com/A-Paratroopers-Memoirs

and the price is just $7. USDollars payable via Paypal.

(2) For the paperback version of the book,

please contact D. G. Harris at telephone (210) 342-2591.

The three “firsts” of which Darrell G. Harris was involved make him truly a man of history:

- He was one of the first paratroopers in the U.S. Airborne (the Airborne units were first created in 1940, and Darrell was in the first all-paratrooper unit, the 82nd Airborne Division since 1942:

- He was one of the first Infantrymen in World War II to earn the CIB (Combat Infantryman’s Badge):

- He was one of the very first members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association (a charter member who joined while still in France in 1945).

Darrell is currently the Secretary of the San Antonio Alamo Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. Darrell, we salute you!

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation and the 82nd Airborne Division Association. All Rights Reserved.

 

 Veterans Oral History Project for the Airborne Trooper or 82nd Abn Div soldier [11:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the Alamo Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, we deliver the opportunity for the Airborne Paratrooper (or the soldier attached to the 82nd Airborne Division) to tell the story of his experiences during his time in the Army within one of several programs encompassing the VETERANS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.

As you will hear in this audio episode, there are 3 major programs within the project that solicit your participation to preserve your story of your experiences when you were in the Army and gave military service:

1.  NATIONAL PROGRAM chartered by the US Congress and implemented by the Library of Congress – THE VETERANS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.

2. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS program called the WORLD WAR II LATINO ORAL HISTORY PROJECT – mainly comprising of the stories from Latinos in Texas from World War II — and now stretching to Vietnam, Korea and the conflicts to the present day;

 and

3. TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD program called “VOICES OF THE VETERANS,” which does not specify a particular branch of service, unit or MOS — it is for veterans of all campaigns and all branches.

As you can see from the image, above, the Texas Veterans Land Board “Voices of the Veterans” program delivers 4 sets of CDs to the veteran, with the audio recording of the interview. In addition, there is a nicely done, professional folio that is awarded to the interviewee, with a great letter and certificate thanking the veteran.

To see the pdf document of the certificate from the Texas Veterans Land Board, CLICK HERE.

In addition to the description of the VETERANS ORALL HISTORY PROJECT, we also deliver to you the announcement of the next meeting:

Saturday, 14 August 2010, at VFW Post 8787 in Austin Texas (at 500 VFW Way, on the northbound access road just north of Braker Lane.)

The meeting will start at 11:45 a.m. and will be a joint meeting with both the 82nd Airborne Division Association and the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, H21 Southern Branch, Austin Chapter.

See you there on Saturday, 14 August 2010.

Copyright (c) 2010, 82nd Airborne Division Association. All rights reserved.

 

 Memorial Day- SW Airborne Days- and June meeting [06:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the Texas Alamo Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, we deliver 3 items for you:

(1) The Memorial Day ceremony in Pflugerville, Texas

This year, we participated in the ceremony at the Cook-Walden Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas, for the Memorial Day remembrance and gratitude to those in the military who had fallen in combat.

In attendance were Duane Williams (in his combat uniform from his combat parachute jump into Panama aka “Operation Just Cause” and also for Operation Desert Storm), Matt Rayson (in his combat uniform as a Combat Medic during the Normandy jump of D-Day, 6 June 1944, in World War II), Alan Babin (our local hero who was a Combat Medic in the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment), and Fred Castaneda (in his combat uniform as an AG in the Vietnam War). These four placed the 82nd Airborne wreath (carried by Alan Babin in his wheelchair) at the ceremonial location where the combat boots, helmet and rifle were located.

It was an emotional moment when all the members paid tribute to honor the fallen comrades in all the conflicts.

And these 1.4 million American servicemen did not lay down their lives voluntarily–their lives were TAKEN  away from them by the activities of the ENEMY. Another way to think about this is the saying from one of the British Airborne Infantrymen of World War II after the invasion of Normandy during D-Day, 6 June 1944:

“They gave up their tomorrows so we can have our todays.”

(2) The 28th Annual SouthWest Memorial Airborne Days Convention in Corpus Christi

This event is scheduled for June 11, 12 and 13 at the Holiday Inn Emerald Beach in Corpus Christi, Texas. All the chapters from Texas and the regional area will be in attendance. Our Alamo chapter has purchased a 1/4-page ad for the book of the convention.

Fred Castaneda will be attending the Convention to represent the Alamo Chapter, and he will report the activities of the Delegates session and the Memorial Dinner to the chapter at the next meeting.

(3) The next meeting of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Alamo Chapter, meeting on 19 June 2010.

This meeting will be at VFW Post 8787 in Austin, Texas (located at 500 VFW Way, Austin, TX 78758).

The meeting will start at 12:00 noon. We will discuss the status of the Saxet Gun show staffing, as well as the upcoming Picnic in July.

Thanks to all the members of the Association for their remembrance, gratitude and honor to those who fell in Combat during the 2010 Memorial Day weekend.

Copyright (c) 2010, 82nd Airborne Division Association, Alamo Chapter,  and Matrix Solutions Corporation.

 

 03- 15May2010 meeting [10:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the Texas Alamo Chapter’s 82nd Airborne Division Association blog, we deliver a summary of the meeting that took place on 15 May 2010 at the Drop Zone Cafe in San Antonio, Texas.

As you will hear in this audio episode, one of the events for which the chapter will bid is the 2011 SouthWest Airborne Days regional reunion of the local chapters in Texas. We have purchased a 1/4-page ad for the booklet of this year’s event (to be held from June 10-13 in Corpus Christi, Texas), and Fred Castaneda will be attending the reunion.

Also, the other two items of great interest are:

(1) Memorial Day Ceremonies

We will have the Alamo Chapter represented in Austin on Monday, 31 May 2010, at the Cook-Walden Cemetery in Pflugerville, Texas, at 11:00 a.m. for the Memorial Day ceremonies. There will be a free meal starting at 12:30 noon right after the close of the event at VFW Post 8787, just several miles south of the cemetery.

(2) The next meeting of the chapter will be on Saturday, 19 June 2010 at VFW Post 8787 in Austin, Texas. Meeting will start at 12:00 hrs (noon) sharp. We will close at 1330 hrs. (1:30 p.m.), as the CIb Association will begin their session at that time.

See you there! and have a valued and grateful Memorial Day, as we give honor and thanks to those who made our freedom possible.

Remember:  THEY GAVE UP THEIR TOMORROWS, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR TODAYs.

Copyright (c) 2010, 82nd Airborne Division Association Alamo Chapter, Texas, and Matrix Solutions Corporation. All rights reserved.