Unit Director August 2007
Greetings E Company. Hope everyone has been staying cool this
summer and able to do some serious relaxing. Last week Roy Barley, Bob Copeland
and I were proud to be able and represent E Company at the reunion of the 75th
Ranger Regiment Association in
Columbus, GA.I
should point out that Copeland was quite the celebrity as he was interviewed by
a reporter from a local television station about the Rangers. Copeland, always
"calm under fire," did an excellent job and told the reporter that Rangers are
the elite of our fighting forces. Amen to that.
Erik Spink has been busy editing eleven hours of interviews that he filmed in Orland into a video that he hopes to be able and show at our next reunion inColorado. He is still looking for photos from Nam that he can include in the video, especially pictures of us in full camo, photos of a patrol loading up on a Huey, undergoing training at our LRRP school in Bearcat, or any pictures as we arrived in country or at the airport getting ready to board for a return flight to the "Real World." If you have any such photos scanned in your computer, you can email them to Erik at: esprofilms@aol.com. You do not need to have been interviewed in order for Erik to use your photos. Several of you have already sent him some excellent pictures and Erik thanks you for helping out. He is still looking for photos from Nam that he can include in the video, especially pictures of us in full camo, photos of a patrol loading up on a Huey, undergoing training at our LRRP school in Bearcat, or any pictures as we arrived in country or at the airport getting ready to board for a return flight to the "Real World." If you have any such photos scanned in your computer, you can email them to Erik at: esprofilms@aol.com. You do not need to have been interviewed in order for Erik to use your photos. Several of you have already sent him some excellent pictures and Erik thanks you for helping out.
Mac is busy getting ready for a "recon trip" out to Colorado where he will coordinate some of the details for our May ’08 reunion. He has already provided Jonesy with some photos for the reunion link on our web site, and I’m sure there will be many more after Mac returns from his trip. By the way, Mac recently met a Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam (Marine Corps) at an eating establishment Mac and I visited when I was in South Carolina. The vet was a company commander who rallied his men to defeat a superior enemy force. I suspect we might read more about it in the next edition of Mac’s "Ramblings."
I have just finished submitting my column for the next issue of Patrolling, but because not everyone gets the magazine (please consider joining the 75th if you are not a member), I’m asking Jonesy to send it out via email. Until next time, be safe and take care.
PATROLLING ARTICLE (submitted by E Company Unit Director Rick Stetson)
Another reunion of the 75th Ranger Regiment Association is in the books and the reception given to the Rangers attending from all over the US and Canada was even warmer than the triple-digit temperatures that greeted us upon our arrival in Georgia. The blast of oven-like air at the Atlanta airport brought back memories of the sensation one had when stepping off a plane at Thon Son Nut in Saigon. One can only imagine what it must be like for our present-day soldiers who have to operate in Iraq under similar conditions while wearing body armor.
Due to assorted SNAFU’s, my departure to Atlanta was delayed a day and then the schedule was further set back when we had an extended wait in Charlotte for a truck to top off the plane with jet fuel. It was comforting to know that Bob Copeland, past E Company unit director, was Charlotte on the scene in Georgia and as always, had everything under control. Bob read a roll call at the Ranger Memorial of our fallen E Company comrades and then at the business meeting, introduced a resolution to have the tan beret adopted as the official headgear of the 75th Ranger Regiment Association. Bob explained that half of the Association’s members had never worn the black beret and pointed out that the percentage would continue to grow in the coming years. Those who have black berets, ball caps or other headgear distinctive to their units could continue wearing them to Association functions. I was bitterly opposed when the Army chief of staff decided to adopt the black beret to be worn by all soldiers, but I remember predicting that our active duty Rangers would one day make the tan beret just as honored and coveted as the black beret, which has happened. The resolution will now be presented to the 75th Ranger Regiment commander who will have to sign off to make it official.
The temperature outside was still well above 100 degrees as we entered the Columbus Convention and Trade Center for the evening banquet, but inside, everything was "cool, calm and collected" under the direction of outgoing president Steve Crabtree. One of the enjoyable aspects of attending a 75th Regiment reunion is the opportunity to meet veterans from other units as well as interact with some of the Rangers serving on active duty. I was seated at a table with Vietnam veterans Doug Pye, a Canadian who served with lurps in the 82nd Airborne and Rufus Bacon who was in the 101st. Bob Copeland joined us after he had circulated among the tables selling raffle tickets for autographed bottles of wines and we were sharing some of our Nam experiences when it was announced that the group of men up front forming for a photo were WWII Rangers. Suddenly, the Rangers were surrounded by younger vets, many with cameras in hand, who wanted to get a good look at some of the men who had climbed the cliffs at Normandy The Rangers, all of them well into their 80’s or more, were still "standing tall and looking good." It was a honor to be in the same room with such distinguished warriors. .
In his opening remarks, Steve Crabtree told of a WWII Ranger who had fought atAnzio and then served as a role model as he was growing up. Steve said it had been an honor to serve as the Association’s president and then introduced Sandy Rouse who had lost a son during Operation Just Cause. Sandy said that the organization known as Gold Star Mothers is now called Gold Star Family as all family members are affected when a loved one is lost in battle.
Our featured speaker was Joe Galloway who co-authored with Lt.Gen. Harold "Hal" Moore, "We Were Soldiers Once… and Young." He said that instead of a speech, he wanted to "tell a few stories" and went on to describe being inserted into a LZ in the Ia Drang Valley when all hell broke loose. Galloway, a reporter, was hugging the ground trying to stay as low as possible when he felt a thud in his side. It was the boot of the battalion’s sergeant major, Basil L. Plumley, a veteran of four combat jumps with the 82nd in WWII. Plumley looked down and said, "Sonny, you are not going to get any photographs while lying on the ground." The book about the battle went on to become a best seller and then was made into a movie so we were delighted when Galloway announced that he and Hal Moore had just finished a second book, "We Are Soldiers Still," which will be published in April.
Galloway’s remarks were enthusiastically received by the audience. He was followed by incoming president, Bill Bullen, who introduced the organization’s officers and recognized the contributions of past presidents including E Company’s Roy Barley, who was in attendance, and Rick Ehrler. Bullen went on to say the 75th Ranger Regiment Association could use additional membership, so if you are not already a member, you should consider joining. Patrolling magazine alone is worth the annual dues, not to mention the pride one feels when attending the Regiment reunions. The chance to meet Rangers who have served with other units is a great experience.
The banquet concluded with John Chester conducting a raffle during which a
number of nice prizes were given away. Copeland had the winning ticket for a
framed print of a patrol moving off an LZ while a Huey flew overhead. After the
banquet, a number of us adjourned to the hospitality room at the
Holiday Inn where past
battles were discussed late into the evening. While we were there, Cheryl Visel
of Airborne Supply announced that a 75th Ranger Regiment Association auxiliary
was being formed. A sign-up list was passed around the room and a number of
ladies present indicated they were interested in joining which is encouraging
because as any member of the American Legion can attest, a well-functioning
auxiliary can greatly contribute to the success of any organization. Those with
a spouse or significant other
who might be interested in an auxiliary and missed the sign-up list, can contact
Cheryl at
208 Portage Lake Road, Munith, MI 49259 or by going on-line at: HHTTP://www.AIRBORNESUPPLY.net.
Before ending this transmission, I want to remind all E Company members to be
sure and circle the dates of 14-18 May 2008 on your calendars. That’s when our
next unit reunion will be held in
Colorado Springs.
Jonesy has provided a link to the reunion on the E Company web site and as of
this writing, 28 members have indicated they plan to be there. Mac reports that
Colorado has a lot to offer so be sure and let Jonesy know if you can join us
there. In the meantime, stay safe and remember,
Rangers Lead the Way.