25- Don Bailey, an Airborne Combat Infantryman who earned his CIB in Grenada [49:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the H21 Southern Branch – Austin, Texas, Chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s 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 Batallion 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.

Notice that the first 2 KIAs from the 82nd Airborne during the assault came from B Co. 2nd Batallion, 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.

For additional material on Operation Urgent Fury (the Grenada campaign), you may wish to refer to episode 23.

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.

 

 24- Peer Leaders assist Vietnam Vet maintenance groups [17:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the Southern Branch, H21 Austin, Texas, Chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association podcast series, we discuss the topic of the plight facing the Vietnam Combat Infantrymen who are seeking help from the VA, and who are being supported by both formal programs and courses (e.g., PTSD 101, PTSD Track II, Anger Management, Stress Management, Diet Management, etc.), as well as the ongoing MAINTENANCE GROUP sessions (often referred to by the VA counselors as “Group.”).

Due to the overwhelming demand placed upon the VA counselors by both the economic situation today, as well as the sheer volume of returning veterans who suffer from PTSD from both OEF and OIF (Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom) from Afghanistan and Iraq, the VA is trying to continue supporting the Vietnam Veterans suffering frm PTSD in combat as infantrymen with the help of volunteers.

These are the Volunteer Peer Leaders who are trained and “certified” by the VA after going through some courses of instruction (which are supplied by a third party training firm which is paid by the VA). They then take an ongoing maintenance group and act as discussion facilitators to continue the face-to-face meetings of the combat infantrymen suffering from PTSD.

In addition to the fate of the Maintenance groups now in the hands from the pilot programs of Volunteer Peer Leaders (who are ex-combat infantryman who also suffered from PTSD), the audio episode centers around personal experience and opinion as to the semi-structured approach taken at the Austin, Texas, VA clinic.

In addition, we also deliver a summary of Suggestions from Veterans who were involved in Combat in the Vietnam War, from the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center (Spring, 2000) and titled “What We’d Like our Family Members and Friends to Know about Living with PTSD.” This document outlines 15 major suggestions (and the author has added 3 more from personal experience). This document is attributed to the Support and Family Education: Mental Health Facts for Families, Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D.

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

 

 23- The Battle For Grenada [7:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the H21 Southern Chapter, Austin-based Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we narrate for you the article that appeared in the 2009 Winter Edition of The Salute Newsletter (one that goes out to all Army veterans, regardless of MOS, campaign or service). This article deals with the multi-branch effort of the 1983 invasion and capture of Grenada, in which the Army played a vital role–especially with the Delta Force, the Rangers and the 82nd Airborne Division.

For the pdf document of that article, click here:

In what is commonly referred to as a “brushfire action” (very similar to what military historians refer to, as well, for the Panama invasion, known as “Operation Just Cause”), the operation in Grenada was the beginning of the steppingstones that would lead to better inter-operation and cooperation of the branches of the military to accomplish the overall mission from the Unites States high command–in this case, the President of the United States at that time, Ronald Reagan.

The Southern Branch Chapter, H20, of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association has contacted an individual who served as an infantryman during Operation Urgent Fury. We hope to have an interview with this CIB award-winner in the near future in another episode.

A salute to all the men who took part in the operation and put the US Army, and the rest of the military, back on the path to effectiveness–which would later pay off in big dividends during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

Copyright (c) 2009, Matrix Solutions Corporation, The Salute, and The United States PsyOp web page for the Grenada campaign. All Rights Reserved.

 

 22- Combat and Camaraderie [24:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this audio podcast episode of the Southern Chapter in Austin, Texas- H21, of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we deliver some thoughts on the theme of Combat Camaraderie.

We also try to address these common questions that are being asked now by some of the combat infantrymen who are returning from their tours of duty in the Middle East:

- what is this type of enduring and internal bond between comrades who are combat infantrymen?

- how is this bond created, and how does it last during combat–and even afterwards–for the combat infantryman?

- why is this something that the school-trained counselors at the VA cannot totally comprehend nor understand?

- what are some of the examples of this type of camaraderie that has existed in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm and the current conflicts in the Middle East?

Take it from one individual’s experiences in how this type of camaraderie saved his life and kept him going–solely to go above self and put the lives of his men before his own during the combat. Also, you will see in this audio podcast how this type of bond still endures to help those Vietnam Veterans that are being treated for mental health issues (like PTSD) because their trust, understanding and non-judgmental empathy is the real treatment that provides the healing and possible closure.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 21- Take a Vet to School Day and Veterans' Day 2008 [16:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the H21-Southern Branch of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we report on the activities surrounding the 2008 Veterans’ Day events. In particular, we focus on both the Veterans’ Day Parade and ceremonies in downtown Austin, Texas; and we also focus on the History Channel’s Nationwide program of “Take A Veteran to School Day.”

1. Veterans’ Day Parade and ceremony

The Southern Branch H21 chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association was well represented in the Veterans’ Day Parade in downtown Austin. Starting at 9:00 a.m., the team lead by Bobby Briscoe, the Chapter Commander, marched in uniform from the 1st Street Congress Bridge to the Southern steps of the State Capital in Austin, Texas (right in front of the replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier).

2. Take A Veteran To School Day

Many elementary schools nationwide are participating in the program sponsored by the History Channel called “Take A Veteran to School Day.”

In downtown Austin, Texas, Metz Elementary School signed up for, and participated in, their event. With the sponsorship of Valerie Galbraith, the principal, and Jennifer Atkinson, the 1st-grade teacher and coordinator of this program, the entire student body assembled in the auditorium and gave a “heroes’ welcome” to the more than 25 veterans that entered the site and were the guests of honor.

Yes, the Combat Infantrymen’s Association was represented by Fred Castaneda, who appeared in authentic combat uniform and equipment from the Vietnam War. Fred was also one of the two guest speakers who addressed the student body, teachers, administrators, parents and the local News and Media teams that were present.

After the assembly, Fred and other veterans went to individual classrooms to speak to the children. Of Fred’s 4 classrooms, 2 of them were bilingual, and so Fred answered their questions and discussed in Spanish with them what it means to be a Veteran — that is, to give service, to sacrifice and to serve the Nation and this youngest of generations, so that they may remain free.

Fred was also interviewed by Paul Brown of the local media team of News8Austin (whose parent company is Time Warner Cable). There are several videos of the interviews on the News8Austin web site, as the local news firm ran 4 days of covering a salute and tribute to the veterans.

Was this a worthwhile event?

You bet.

If you get a chance to participate and be honored by a school that will be participating in this great History Channel Program and Initiative, it is very much recommended. The students prepare prior to the event by creating lists of questions to ask the veterans–such as:

- where did you serve? what were your travels?

- what type of job did you do? what did you learn?

- what type of hardships did you go through? what was your training like?

- what did you get most out of your service in the military?

and so on.

In this episode, we describe how one dissenter (who did NOT even attend the event) felt compelled to force her agenda and opinion by writing and commenting to the local newspaper. There were 4 responses that IMMEDIATELY came back to her:

(1) from Don Dorsey, the leader of the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans;

(2) from the Metz Elementary School coordinator of the program and teacher, Ms. Jennifer Atksinon;

(3) from the other guest speaker at the assembly who participated in the program, Mr. James Crabtree; and

(4) from a citizen thankful for his freedom and grateful to the military that ensures it for him.

They were ALL supportive of the program and they each corrected the opinions and naivite of the lone dissenter with her own agenda. You can listen to the exact text and words in the audio podcast.

We thank the History Channel for their initiative in sponsoring this program, and we thank Metz Elementary School in Austin for participating in it, for supporting the veterans, and for defending the event from the non-attending complainers. Thank you, Mrs. Galbraith and Ms. Atkinson!

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Note: photos were purchased by Fred Castaneda from the Austin American Statesman.

 

 20- CIB Austin chapter meeting on 4 October 2008 [6:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this short episode of the Austin, Texas, chapter – H21 Southern Branch- of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we review several important events from the meeting held on 4 October 2008:

1.  Veterans’ Day Parade details- in which the CIB Association chapter will meet between 7 and 7:30 am at the Congress Ave. Bridge between 1st street and Riverside for muster call. The parade begins at 9 am and ends at the South steps of the Texas Capitol building at 10 a.m. Then, at 11 a.m., Olie Pope, master of ceremonies, will start the presentations and ceremonies (on the 11th month, on the 11th day, and at the 11th hour–commemorating the armistice that ended World War I).

At the end of the formal ceremonies, and close to the noon hour, we will be placing the wreath of the CIB Association at the foot of the mock-up of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which will be at the bottom of the Southern Steps of the State Capitol building.

2. It was discovered that, due to previous commitments and changing schedules (along with the state of the high gas prices and transportation costs during this economic crisis), neither Bobby Briscoe nor John Torres nor Fred Castaneda will be able to attend the CIB Reunion in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Thus, we will not have planned representation of our chapter there. We will rely on the communication from the newsletter of the Blue Badge to give us an update.

3. The next meeting of the chapter will be at the VFW Post # 8787 which is off the northbound access road of IH-35 on VFW Road, just north of Braker Lane. Meeting will start at 18:00 hrs on Saturday, 8 November 2008 (so that members will not have conflicts with election-based activities).

The final part of the meeting digressed into a conversation of politically-based content about the candidates.  However, this organization is not commenting on those personal opinions, and we will proceed to focus on the support for the disadvantaged veterans.

Also, there were 2 special guests from out-of-town that attended the meeting– one from California, and the other from Denton, Texas.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 19- CIB Association meeting in Austin on 6Sept2008 [16:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the H21 Southern Branch- Austin, Texas, chapter of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we summarize in the audio podcast the meeting held at the VFW post 8787 in North Austin on Saturday, 6 September 2008, at 18:00 hrs.

- The upcoming events:

1.  The 19 September 2008 ceremony at the Texas cemetery at 11:00 hrs (see Tony Martinez for details);

2. The Veterans’ Day Parade on 11 November 2008 at 07:00 hrs., with muster at the South Congress Bridge (between Cesar Chavez and Riverside);

3.  The planned fact-finding trip to Fort Hood, tentatively planned for 24 Oct 2008;

4.  The upcoming Reunion and Conference for the Combat Infantrymen’s Association from 7-10 October in Colorado Springs, Colorado (see Blue Badge, pages 17-20 of the July-August-September 2008 edition) ;

5.  The next meeting of the Austin Chapter on Saturday, 4 October 2008, at the 7707 IH-35 location at the Waters Bluffs Springs apartment complex gathering center.

We also had a new member meet us during the meeting. Let’s give a salute to Howard, a WWII veteran who earned his CIB during the campaign for the re-conquest of the Philippines with the 25th Infantry Division.

Remember that our next meeting will be at the Waters Bluffs Springs apartment complex at 7707 IH-35 South on 4 October 2008 at 18:00 hrs.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation and the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, Austin Texas Chapter – H21 Southern Branch. All Rights reserved.

 

 18- John Lovett and military accuracy in the media for the combat infantryman [35:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the H21 Southern Branch, Austin Chapter, of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, we take an interview with John Lovett, the “hmaguy“–a retired Army veteran and military historian who is now a Screenwriter, military advisor and consultant to the Media industry, especially motion pictures.

He has worked on several feature films, including Saving Private Ryan and Pearl Harbor–as well as some documentaries in the History Channel.

In this episode, hear how he tries to ensure that the Media portrays the plight and role of the combat infantryman and other services in the motion pictures or other media presented to audiences worldwide.

He currently has a podcast called The Military and the Media, which is available for free subscription at the iTunes store.

John also tries to assist veterans who are interested in pursuing careers in the entertainment industry with advice and counsel in training or by helping them to make the necessary contacts to become performers as talent, or to work on productions in all sorts of roles (as you will hear in the audio podcast).

We thank John for his time in helping to show us how he is fighting for the accuracy and authenticity of the portrayal of the Armed Forces–especially the combat infantryman.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

 17- CIB Austin meets 82nd Airborne Paratroopers [17:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode of the Southern Branch H21, Austin Chapter, of the Combat Infantrymen’s Association podcast series, we focus on several events for the CIB Austin chapter.

(1) The chapter meeting on 2 August 2008:

In this meeting, we had a full Agenda. You can get to view what it was by clicking here:

(and how the items discussed are described in the audio mp3 file of this episode).

(2) During the meeting, it was approved by a vote of the members to schedule a trip to San Antonio to attend a meeting of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Alamo Chapter:

We wanted to present both a certificate of appreciation, but also a complementary membership, to Darrell G Harris, author of the book Casablanca to VE-Day: A Paratrooper’s Memoirs.

[Note: you can get a full interview of this paratrooper's history in episode 12 of this podcast series]

(3) The 82nd Airborne Division Association Meeting on 27 August 2008:

- We presented the Certificate of Appreciation to Darell G. Harris – click here to view the certificate: ;

- Bobby Briscoe presented a free membership to D. G. Harris to the Combat Infantrymen’s Association;

- Bobby Briscoe then presented a signed copy of his book, Jungle Warriors, to D. G. Harris (my apologies for not having a steady hand while taking the photo);

- D. G. Harris also presented signed copies of his own book, Casablanca to VE-Day, to the members of the CIB Association, Austin Chapter.

- Attending the meeting were: Bobby Briscoe, Tony Martinez, John Torres and Fred Castaneda;

- The members talked to those paratroopers with CIBs and encouraged them to join our association. Below, Fred Castaneda and DG Harris (note- Fred is a member of BOTH the CIB Austin and 82nd Airborne Association, since Fred served 2 tours with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) and the 505th PIR, and like Darrell, has both jump wings and a CIB badge);

- We met Don W. Bailey, a future interviewee, as he received his CIB for the combat that he saw in Grenada in 1983; and

- We agreed to have a joint meeting for both the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Alamo Chapter, and the CIB Association in Austin in the first half of 2009 at the VFW 8787 location, so that the camaraderie between these 2 groups can continue and grow.

(4) If you are interested in acquiring the audio version of the books described in this podcast, here are the links for the audio version (note: the hardcopy versions are almost depleted):

- Casablanca to VE-Day: A Paratrooper’s Memoirs by Darell G. Harris;

- Jungle Warriors by Bobby Briscoe.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation and Combat Infantrymen’s Association. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode, we wish to to respond to the many listeners that have inquired about the audio version of the book by D.G. Harris, Casablanca to VE-Day: A Paratrooper’s Memoirs.

This book is now available as an audio version, downloadable via the PremiumCast system directly to your mp3 player via iTunes.

The cost is $7.00 US Dollars and can be purchased via PayPal at the URL of:

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

The book is composed of 3 audio mp3 files that are downloaded to you via iTunes. The first module is the mp3 file of the interview with D.G. Harris, which is actually episode 12 of this series.

Copyright (c) 2008, Matrix Solutions Corporation. All Rights Reserved.