-Colonel Leon Holland, USA, (Ret.)
Jesus was saying, in essence, "Come on folks, we have work to do!"
This passage does, in fact, come as Jesus had dealt with the dramatic
temptations in the desert, and now he is primed for the beginning of his ministry (work).
1830-1900 - Social
At the second crash site, two 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force) snipers,
SFC Randy Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon, were inserted by the Black Hawk Super 6-2. Their first two
requests to be inserted were turned down by Command, but they were finally granted permission upon
their third request, protecting the crash site from the approaching mob and inflicting heavy casualties
on the Somalis. When Gary Gordon was eventually killed, Randy Shughart then picked up Gordon's CAR-15
and gave it to Michael Durant. Shugart went back around the nose of the chopper and held off the mob
for about ten more minutes, before he was killed. The Somali mob then overran the crash site and
killed all but one of the helicopter crew: pilot CW3 Michael Durant. He was nearly beaten to death
but was saved when members of Aidid's militia came to take him prisoner. Two weeks after the Battle of Mogadishu, General Garrison officially accepted responsibility. In a
handwritten letter to President Clinton, Garrison took full responsibility for the outcome of the battle.
He wrote that Task Force Ranger had adequate intelligence for the mission and that their objective
(capturing targets from the Olympic Hotel) was met....
Wikipedia
The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin- April 2011
Last month we had another outstanding program. Companion Derdeyn
introduced us to Major Torres of the Texas National Guard. Torres shared
his personal life stories that guided his growth and development toward
becoming a successful professional military officer. Of particular note,
he told us how the positive impact of receiving the MOWW Junior ROTC Medal
in El Paso affected his life's focus and direction following high school.
His heartfelt delivery and fundamental philosophy about life and
relationships were very inspiring. Thank you, Major Torres and Colonel
Derdeyn! We have invited Major Torres back in May when his Commander is
scheduled to speak.
This month in keeping with the seasonal theme, Companion Stanley Bullard
is graciously sponsoring an evening of song and charm by the Women of
Heart Song. They have graced us with their lovely voices before and we
welcome them once again. Don't miss this exciting evening of fun and song!
As mentioned during the last meeting, the two service projects that our
Chapter supports are the Junior and Senior ROTC programs in our area
and the sponsorship of select high school students to attend the Youth Leadership
Conference. Both projects are totally supported by your generous tax deductible
contributions. Please submit your checks to our Treasurer, Companion McVeigh.
If you have access to email service and you are NOT receiving this publication
electronically, please provide your email address to our Newsletter Editor,
Companion J. R. Howard. Remember, there is a printing and postage expense
associated with the copy you receive via the postal service.
Finally, the search for officers willing to serve our chapter in a position of
responsibility continues. We sincerely need you to step forward and volunteer to
sustain our chapter and keep it vibrant. After all, we are located in one of the
country's fastest growing and most popular cities. Let's keep our chapter in
sync with the positive momentum of the Capital City.
Happy Easter and Happy Spring to All!!! We are looking forward to seeing you at
the next meeting, April 14, 2011!
Next Meeting. April 14 at the
Holiday Inn Northwest (Mopac & Hwy 183). Please join us for the
Women of Heart Song..
You may have seen people dressed in camouflage fatigues outside your local mall
or grocery store. They are part of a group called VSO -- Veterans Support
Organization-- that collects money for veterans. However, where the money
actually goes raises questions about their creditability.
COLA 2012.
After
more than two years the CPI is back above zero early this year. Inflation rose
0.5% in January and now stands at plus 0.3% for the year. Perhaps we may yet
see a modest COLA increase in 2012
MOWW Scripture and Commentary
April 2011
(Chaplain Ernie Dean)
As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee he saw two brothers who were
fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake
with a net. Jesus said to them, "Come with me and I will teach you to catch [people]."
At once they left their nets and went with him. (Matthew 4:18-20)
It is exciting that Jesus demonstrates himself to be an inviting and calling
person, and a person who looks to others to join in the ministry/work of
carrying out the will of God. The Bible shows clearly that all of us are looked
upon by God as workers, as ones devoted to God's cause of love. We are never
excluded unless we exclude ourselves.
Most of us entered military service because we wanted to serve our country. We
have done well and know a certain sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction.
But, how do we feel about serving God? Where, when, and how have you experienced
God's call upon your life to reach out in a sense of service in God's name and
for the common good? We tend to move ourselves toward our primary concerns and
interests and where our talents seem to fit the best. Have we been diligent in
matching our personal gifts to God's call above our own agenda? How do you feel
about your current status?
We believe in the calling we hear from God, then we seek the ways and means to
serve. We are successors to all who have served before us. We observe (pay
attention) to Jesus' way of doing things and say, "Yes, I want to do that,
too!" Then those who follow us and observe us can respond positively and
faithfully and God's community of love grows and grows and grows, in both
service and worship.
What a blessing!
The Battle of San Jacinto, a decisive battle in US history, was
fought in Texas. General Sam Houston's Texas Army defeated General Santa Anna's
Mexican forces in this battle that lasted just eighteen minutes on April 21,
1836. Santa Anna, the President of Mexico, was captured the next day and forced
to sign a treaty paving the way for independence for Texas and requiring Mexican
forces to leave the area.
"Nothing is so good for the morale of the troops than to occasionally
see a dead general."
- - Field Marshal Slim
Take the extra weight out of your car. Just 100 unnecessary lbs.
in your car can make your car 2% percent less efficient on gas mileage. This effect
is more prevalent in smaller vehicles.
Tire pressure. You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3% by
keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas
mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires.
Don't use high octane gas unless your car is pinging. The octane rating of gasoline is
the measure of how much fuel can be compressed before it ignites, rather than it being ignited by spark.
Using the incorrect octane level fuel in your vehicle can negatively affect fuel economy and the
engine itself
"Coffee tastes better if the latrines are dug downstream from an
encampment."
- - U.S Army Field Regulations, 1861
"If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission
properly."
- Col David Hackworth
"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the
reward for what he gave."
- - Calvin Coolidge
Chapter Officers
Commander Col Leon Holland 335-1224
Vice Commander
Treasurer Col Andrew McVeigh 261-6272
Adjutant Mrs.
Patricia Egan 750-1399
Chaplin LtCol
Ernest S. Dean 477-5390
Youth Leadership
ConferenceLtCol
Thomas W. Anderson 445-4480
ROTC Awards Col
Leon Holland 335-1224
Newsletter & Web Site LtCol
J. Robert Howard 848-0285 Schedule:
1900-1905 - Invocation & Salutes
1905-1945 - Dinner
1945-2000 - Break
2000-2045 - Program
2045-2100 - Adjourn.
"The reason the American Army does so well in wartime, is that war is
chaos, and the American Army practices it on a daily basis."
- from a post-war debriefing of a German General
The Women of Heart Song are about 21 strong and will sing the
following: I Love You and What a Wonderful World., Ain't Seen Nothing Yet,
Working Man, and Shed a Little Light( a James Taylor song). Edie Elkjer
will sing Ukulele Lady. Elkjer is a sweet Danish.
Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
On October 3, 1993, Task Force Ranger, U.S. Special Operations Forces composed mainly of Bravo Company
3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (better known
as "Delta Force") operators, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
("The Night Stalkers"), attempted to capture Aidid's foreign minister Omar Salad Elmi and his top
political advisor, Mohamed Hassan Awale.
The plan was that Delta Force operators would assault the target building (using MH-6 Little Bird
helicopters) and secure the targets inside the building while four Ranger chalks (under the command
of Capt. Michael D. Steele) would fast rope down from hovering MH-60K Black Hawk helicopters.
The Rangers would then create a four-corner defensive perimeter around the target building
while a column of nine Humvees and three five-ton trucks (under the command of Lt. Col. Danny McKnight)
would arrive at the target building to take the entire assault team and their prisoners back to base.
The entire operation was estimated to take no longer than 30 minutes.
The ground-extraction convoy was supposed to reach the captive targets a few minutes after the
beginning of the operation. However, it ran into delays. Somali citizens and local militia formed
barricades along the streets of Mogadishu with rocks and burning tires, blocking the convoy from
reaching the Rangers and their captives. Aidid militiamen with megaphones shouting, "Kasoobaxa g
uryaha oo iska celsa cadowga!" ("Come out and defend your homes!").
One of the Black Hawk helicopters, callsign Super
6-1 piloted by CW3 Cliff "Elvis" Wolcott, was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade. Both pilots
of Super 6-1 were killed, and two of the crew chiefs were severely wounded. SSG Daniel Busch (a Delta
Force sniper) survived the crash and managed to hold off the militia until he was evacuated by an
MH-6 Little Bird helicopter, callsign Star 4-1. While he was defending the downed helicopter, however,
he was shot 4 times and later died of his wounds.
A Combat Search and Rescue team, led by TSgt Scott Fales of the Air Force PJs, were able to fast rope
down to the crash site of Super 6-1 despite an RPG hit that crippled their helicopter, Super 6-8.
This helicopter did make it back to base, despite the damage. Fales and his team found both the pilots
dead and two wounded inside the crashed helicopter. Under intense fire, the team moved the wounded men
to a nearby collection point, where they built a make-shift shelter using Kevlar armor plates salvaged
from the wreckage of Super 6-1.
There was confusion between the ground convoy and the assault team. The assault team and the ground
convoy waited for twenty minutes to receive their orders to move out. Both units were under the mistaken
impression that they were to be first contacted by the other. During the wait, a second Black Hawk
helicopter, callsign Super 6-4 and piloted by CW3 Michael Durant, was also shot down by an RPG.
Most of the assault team went to the first crash site for a rescue operation. Upon reaching the site,
about 90 Rangers and Delta Force operators found themselves under siege from heavy militia fire.
Despite air support, the assault team was effectively trapped for the night. With a growing number
of wounded needing shelter, they occupied several nearby houses and confined the occupants for the
duration of the battle.[17] Outside, a stiff breeze stirred up blinding, brown clouds of dust.
For requesting to help defend their comrades in the face of overwhelming odds, SFC Shughart and
MSG Gordon were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Repeated attempts by the Somalis to mass forces and overrun the American positions in a series of
firefights near the first crash site were neutralized by aggressive small arms fire and by strafing
runs and rocket attacks from AH-6J Little Bird helicopter gunships of the Nightstalkers, the only air
unit equipped for and trained for night fighting. The Somali National Alliance militia casualties
were reported as 700 killed and about 1,000 wounded. Other Somali leaders put their losses at 312
killed and 814 wounded.
A relief convoy comprised of elements from the Task Force 2-14 Infantry, 10th Mountain Division,
accompanied by Malaysian and Pakistani UN forces, arrived at the first crash site at around 2:00
in the morning. No contingency planning or coordination with UN forces had been arranged prior to
the operation; consequently, the recovery of the surrounded U.S. soldiers was significantly
complicated and delayed. Determined to protect all members of the rescue convoy, Gen. Garrison
made sure that the convoy would roll out in force. When the convoy finally pushed into the city,
it consisted of more than 100 vehicles including Malaysian forces' German made Condor APCs, four
Pakistani tanks, American Humvees and several five-ton flatbed trucks. This two-mile-long column
was supported by several other Black Hawks and Cobra assault helicopters stationed with the 10th
Mountain Division. Meanwhile, the "Little Birds" of Task Force Ranger continued their defense of
the downed crew and rescuers of Super 6-1. The American assault force sustained heavy casualties,
including several killed, and a Malaysian soldier was also killed when an RPG hit his Condor vehicle.
Seven Malaysians and two Pakistanis were wounded.
The battle was over by 6:30 AM on Monday, October 4. American forces were finally evacuated to the UN
base by the armored convoy. While leaving the crash site, a group of Rangers and Delta Force
operators realized that there was no room left in the vehicles for them and were forced to run out of
the city on foot. This has been commonly referred to as the "Mogadishu Mile." U.S. forces suffered no
casualties, and successfully evacuated.
In all, 19 U.S. soldiers were killed in action during the battle and another 83 were wounded in action.