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GATHERING OF WARRIORS 22 – 27 JULY The Worldwide Army Rangers (WAR) first ever “GATHERING OF WARRIORS” is fast approaching. The planning stage is nearing completion and WAR will execute their first ever reunion as we host the Airborne Rangers of the and the Echo 20th LRP / Charlie Company 75th Infantry (Ranger) at .

Our Patrol Base for the “Gathering” is the Wingate Hotel located at 1711 Rollins Way, Columbus, Georgia. The hospitality suite will be in operation daily from Monday, 22 July through Thursday 25 July. Please stop by and reacquaint with old Ranger Buddies and create new friendships with the modern day Rangers.

Activities scheduled are as follows. Each morning, Monday through Friday, you may take your four man team to the Bull Creek Golf Course to participate in the four-man “Best Ball” Scramble Golf Tournament. Direction to the golf course and instruction for the tournament will be available upon check-in at the hotel. Simply play your round of golf with your foursome and submit your score card to the tournament director, RGR Thomas Bragg. RGR Bragg will recognize the winners of the scramble and award prizes Friday evening at the banquet.

The highlight for Tuesday is the Distinguished Member of the Regiment investiture ceremony conducted in Marshall Auditorium, McGinnis–Wickham Hall (Building 4) Fort Benning. The Ranger Hall of Fame Dinner (by invitation) is that evening in the Ranger Hall of Fame, located at the Ranger Training Brigade Headquarters.

Wednesday afternoon is the Hall of Fame induction Ceremony, once again conducted in Marshall Auditorium, McGinnis-Wickham Hall (Building 4). The Ranger Regiment “No-host” Bar-B-Que is that evening at Freedom Hall, which is located at Lawson Army Airfield on Fort Benning. Ranger Brown is also hosting the annual “RANGER PARTY AT THE BROWN FAMILY FARM.” Any Ranger that desires to attend must RSVP to [email protected] or call Kathy at 706-324-3249 no later than 17 July.

Thursday morning is the Regimental Change of Command as RGR (COL) Christopher Vanek assumes command of the Ranger Regiment from RGR (COL) Mark Odom at the Infantry Museum. Concurrently the ladies will conduct a guided bus tour of “Midtown Columbus” (The historic district) and the “Springer Opera House.” This is followed by a no host luncheon at Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant followed by desert and souvenir shopping at Brother’s General Store. The ladies will complete their day and return to the Patrol Base (The Wingate Hotel) about 2:30 p.m.

Friday morning is the Echo 20th / Charlie Ranger Memorial Service at the Ranger Memorial on Fort Benning followed by a visit to the Fort Benning Main Exchange. Friday evening is the highlight of our week as we host the Airborne Rangers of the Korean War and Echo 20th / Charlie Rangers at the “Gathering of Warriors Banquet” in at the Ranger Training Brigade. The Social hour will be held in the Ranger Hall of Fame and the banquet is in the 4th Battalion Multi-purpose Classroom.

Saturday morning WAR will conduct our Annual WAR meeting at the VFW on Victory Drive. Rangers and their guest will then return to base and await the next “Gathering of Warriors!”

It is not too late to attend the 2013 GATHERING OF WARRIORS!

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FRAGO 3-13 http://rangers-army.org 12 July 2013 Steve “Bubbles” Franklin

By Steve “Bubbles” Franklin John (Gunner) Starnes and I were in the same platoon, and one night at our night defensive position (NDP) there were six guys in camo fatigues with painted faces. Gunner and I looked at each other and asked them who the heck they were. “LURPS,” they said, and we’re doing a stay behind insertion. Right then and there John and I decided we wanted to start the 1049 process to volunteer for that elite unit. After interviewing with CPT Gary Steve and Gunner Bjork and passing the E/51 Recondo School, we were in! Because Gunner and I trained together, went to Viet Nam together, and worked together it Remember that hit song back in the mid -60’s, “The was difficult to be separated and assigned to Ballad of the Green Berets” by SSG Barry Sadler? different teams in different AO’s. Anyway, that was my buddy and my favorite song back in high school in Michigan. We just couldn’t I was first assigned to a team down in Duc Pho wait to graduate and join the Army. Heck with (Team Marlboro) and to other teams in my two college – there was action going on overseas (where years over there. I also worked out of LZ Baldy, was Viet Nam?), so the five of us went to Fort Knox but never been on Mad Mac’s Mountain. on the buddy plan for basic training two weeks after Some of the guys I knew and worked with were graduating. Dick Roth, Larry Mosley, Ben Thomas, Rick Lett, Bruce Davey, Lance Chandler, John Felts, Rick We all went our separate ways in the Army, and I Corkan, John Fritzinger, Lt. Henry, Mike went to Fort Gordon, Georgia for A.I.T. After Lazorchak, Roger Peet, LT Pennington, Ron graduating 11C (mortars), I was assigned to the 4th Ridenhour. Tom Sagan, Pat Scallion, John Schultz, Battalion, 21st Infantry, 11th Brigade over at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Our Battalion flew Dave Shjupe, Dave Swires, SGT Slaughter, Udell U.S. Airways to Chu Lai in April 1968, and we Strack, Henry Tablano, Pat Thiele, Baradley Watts pulled patrols in the AMERICAL Division AO. (KIA – it should have been me), Don Scheerer, John Dare (the Brit), and others I can’t recall at this 2

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FRAGO 3-13 http://rangers-army.org 12 July 2013 time. By the way, I would like to say that the 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade, AMERICAL Division contributed at four guys to E/51 (LRP): John Starnes, John Dare, and myself from C Company (mortar platoon), and Tom Robinson from E Company (RECON) (read his riveting, excellent book “W.I.A.”).

My code name “Bubbles” was given to me because on the approach to insertion I would pop two pieces of “Hubba Bubba” bubble gum in my mouth and chew it for the entire mission (even sleep with it), and when running to the chopper for extraction I G/ 75(RANGER) TOC, Chu Lai, 1969-70 would stick the lump on a tree. I remember chewing it quietly, not popping any bubbles, except I left G Company and ETS’d out of the Army in on one patrol sneaking through elephant grass with June 1970. With money I saved up over there, I Boot Corkan as Team Leader. I will never forget paid cash for a 650cc Triumph Tiger motorcycle that killer stare he gave me! and rode west from Michigan to a small town in Wyoming to begin my G.I. Bill at Northwest The missions I went on can be related by all you Community College in Powell, Wyoming. I guys: some intense, some not so; some lasting received my Associates Degree in 1973, then went minutes on the ground, some lasting hours; some back to Detroit and worked at Chrysler Motors on three days, some five days; radio relay; hunter the assembly line and at other motor jobs. killer. But one thing for sure was the teamwork, concentration, awareness, professionalism, While back in Michigan, I met my (then) future bondage, and brotherhood of the guys I worked wife, Shirley, (we married in 1975), but I couldn’t with. Nothing in my post-LRP life can compare take the auto industry anymore so I decided to go with that. I think and reflect on my LRP back out west to continue college and work on my experiences daily. I’m here today because of my Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology at Montana brothers. State University in Boseman, Montana. I graduated in 1977 and we moved down to Denver, Colorado

in 1979 after accepting a job offer with the oil industry. The work involved computer-processing of seismic exploration data, and lasted until 1986 when I got laid off. The oil industry just picked up and left Denver and the Rocky Mountain region and

moved down to Texas.

We moved to up to Bailey, Colorado in the mountains in 1984, and have been up here ever since. In the immediate years after being laid-off, I

worked all sorts of jobs – from security, to spraying chemicals on lawns, to being a chimney sweep

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(Need your chimney swept?) I still have my My wife of almost 40 years has been my life and equipment, including my black top hat! soul-mate to this day. We have two grown sons: Michael, who is working on his PHD, and Jesse, In 1990 I was hired by the National Park Service as a career noncommissioned officer in the Air Force. a survey technician. I was on the road with my Our house is paid off up here in the mountains, and survey crew for over two years traveling to various the deer and elk are so cool to watch out our national parks and monuments across the country window! Even though I had triple by-pass open performing topographical mapping projects for park heart surgery back in 1996, I am fortunate to be engineers who wanted improvements to certain physically active. IU have been on the 23 summits areas and facilities at the parks. At that time our of Colorado’s 54 14ers (mountains over 14,000 feet theme song was “On the Road Again” by Willie in elevation), and have participated in eight Nelson. Then in 2997, I transferred over to the Outward Bound courses for veterans. However, Federal Highway Administration and mapped road I’m not very sociable, and would rather stay home improvements in various national parks, forests, and here in my bunker. Every other Tuesday is my Viet other Federal lands. Nam vet group at the Veterans Center, and I look forward to the groups to bond with my bro’s. I am I got my Colorado Professional Survey License in honored to have been asked to tell my story. I hope 2002 after six attempts of the eight (8) hour exam, to see you guys at some future reunions, but I will and then worked for CDOT (Colorado Department definitely see you on the LZ on the other side. Until of Transportation) working on various highway then, Charlie Mike! Bubbles survey projects until 2006, when I left the work force due to VA service-connected PTSD, then later President’s note: Steve is a Life Member of WAR and a S.C Ischemic heart disease (agent orange). member of the CHUCK WATERS PATROL in Colorado, as well as a lifelong friend.

In conclusion, my post-Viet Nam life has been th blessed in many ways. 3d Battalion 75 Ranger Regiment Change of Command

On 12 July, a humid, “Muggy” Georgia morning, LTC Marcus Evans passed the responsibility of Command of the 3d Ranger Battalion to LTC Patrick J. Ellis during the Change of Command Ceremony held on York Field. LTC Evans had been in command of the Battalion since 20 July 2011. Prior to the ceremony, LTC Evans was presented the for his command of the Battalion and a Bronze Star for his service as the Joint Task Force Commander during the Battalion’s most recent combat deployment to Afghanistan. It was the Battalion’s 17th deployment of the Global War on Terror. LTC Evans’ wife Kelly was Steve and Shirley awarded the “Shield of Sparta” in recognition of her

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FRAGO 3-13 http://rangers-army.org 12 July 2013 service as the Family Readiness Group” Leader Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. SSG Peiffer during the past two years. will represent the Regiment at the US Army Special Operations Command Noncommissioned Officer of LTC Ellis comes to the Battalion after successful the Year completion. command of 1-501 IN (ABN) and the War College. LTC Ellis previously served in the Regiment as a Platoon Leader, Battalion Logistics Officer, Company Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, and Battalion Operations Officer. He is married to the former Brenda Finnell from Alameda, California and they have two children, Deirdre (13) and Oren (10).

Worldwide Army Rangers offers our heartfelt thanks to LTC Evans for leading and caring for our Rangers. WE wish LTC Ellis continued success as he provides the leadership that our Rangers so richly deserve. SSG Peiffer

COL Ralph Puckett Specialist Eduardo Garibay, an Automated Leadership Award / NCO and Logistical Specialist from the Regimental Special SOLDIER OF THE YEAR Troops Battalion was recognized as the 2013 Soldier of the Year. SPC Garibay will represent the The presented the COL Regiment in the USASOC Soldier of the Year Ralph Puckett Leadership Award to CPT Dana competition. Gingrich, B Company, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at an awards ceremony conducted at Regimental Headquarters CPT Gingrich on 5 June. CPT Gingrich is currently serving as a Platoon Leader in B Company, 3d Battalion.

SSG Christopher Peiffer, a Squad Leader in Charlie th SPC Garibay Company, 3d Battalion, 75 Ranger Regiment was recognized as the 2013 Regimental

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Gathering of Warriors RANGER SHOOL CLASS 6-13 Auction Item GRADUATES 205 RANGERS

Ranger Lance Hoffman and First Command Class 6-13 graduated 205 Rangers graciously donated this Michael Garman sculpture on 21 June. CPT Krieger, SFC Yancy and SSG of a World War II Platoon Sergeant to be auctioned Breaux served as the Class Tactical Officer and on Thursday, 25 July. The auction will occur at the Noncommissioned Officers. Wingate hotel in the hospitality suite.

Rgr Klein, RGR Hoffman, Rgr Merten, Rgr Block, Rgr Hanson, Rgr Mullen

WWII PSG Ranger (2LT) Paul T. Merten was the Officer Leadership Award recipient for the class. Ranger Merten will join the 2d Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany as a Platoon Leader.

RGR Merten and RGR Hoffman

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Ranger School Class 7-13 Graduates 143 Rangers

Three hundred sixty five (365) Ranger Students began training on 13 May with Ranger Class 7-13. One hundred forty three (143) earned the coveted Ranger Tab and graduated 12 July 2013. RGR (2LT) William Semple from the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) was the Officer Leadership Award recipient.

RGR Hanson and RGR Mullen

Ranger (SFC) Kenne P. Hanson was recognized as the enlisted Leadership Award Recipient. Ranger Hanson is an Observer/Traininer assigned to the 198th Infantry Brigade, Fort McCoy Wisconsin. They each received a Certificate of Achievement from Worldwide Army Rangers and a $25.00 gift card provided by Ranger Joe’s.

Graduating with Class 6-13 were Ranger Elias Al Balaa and Ranger Jean Assaad from Jordan; and Ranger Marc Pelland and Ranger Mark Moffat from RGR Semple and RGR Klein Canada. Ranger Galen Jones from the Air Force also earned the coveted Ranger Tab.

USAF and Allied Graduates

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RGR (SFC) Gilberto Zavala from 7th Special Force RGR (SRA) Jesse Waldron a Tactical Air Control Group was the Enlisted Leadership Award Party (TACP) from the Air Force also graduated recipient. RGR Semple and RGR Zavala received a with Class 7-13. Certificate of Achievement from WAR and a $25.00 gift card compliments of Commando’s.

RGR Block; RGR Waldrop; RGR Gilbert; and RGR Bacerra. Back Row: RGR Hoffman and RGR Santini.

RGR Zavala and RGR Klein Graduates from the Marine Corps were RGR (CPT) Mathew Perry and RGR (CPL) David Tanney. RGR (2LT Klemen Bancic from Slovenia graduated They are assigned to Force RECON. with Class 7-13. He will return to Slovenia where he will serve as a Platoon Leader.

RGR Semple; RGR Tanney; RGR Gilbert; RGR Perry; RGR Zavala; Back row: RGR Block; RGR Hoffman; RGR Santini; and RGR Bacerra. RGR Block; RGR Bancic; RGR Gilbert; RGR Bacerra; Back row: RGR Hoffman; RGR Santini

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LTC THOMAS SAGER ASSUMES COMMAND OF 4TH RANGER TRAINING BATTALION

LTC Thomas J. Sager assumed command of the 4th Ranger Trainign Battalion at the Ranger Memorial on 20 June. LTC Sage assumes Command of the Battalion following LTC George Shabbahar. CSM Vaughn Overton, passed the Battalion Colors to COL Lear, Brigade Commander who in turn passed the Colors and responsibility for the 4th Ranger Training Battalion to LTC Sager. LTC Sager A Company Graduates returned to the Colors to CSM Overton, the “Guardian” of the Colors and Senior Enlisted Leader in the Battalion.

LTC Sager, a native of Illinois, is a 1994 Distinguished Military Graduate from Iowa State University. His initial assignment following IOBC and Ranger School was as a Platoon Leader in 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry (Sykes Regulars) 1st Brigade, 2d Infantry Division, Korea. LTC Sager served as an Assistant Operations Officer and Platoon Leader in F Company, 51st Infantry, XVIII ABN Corps Long Rang Surveillance Company. Following the Infantry Advance Course, LTC Sager served as S-4 for 2d Battalion, 505 Parachute B Company Graduates Infantry Regiment (PIR). He then commanded C Company until 2002 when he took command of the 82d Airborne Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment (LRSD. He deployed the Detachment to Afghanistan in the fall of 2002.

LTC Sager attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in 2006. Following graduation he was assigned as the Battalion S-3 for the 4th Ranger Training Battalion. In 2008 LTC Sager became the S-3 for the 197 Infantry Brigade. Following this assignment, LTC Sager served as a Security Force Assistance Advisor assigned to the 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry C Company Graduates

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Division where he advised five division level staff th officers for the 8th Iraqi Army Division in Al 4 RTB Family Readiness Group Recognizes WAR Diwaniyah. Following his return from OIF Seven (7), LTC Sager served in the 197th Brigade as the The 4th Ranger Training Battalion Family Readiness New Equipment Training Commander and the Group and Team Shabbahar recognized WAR for Deputy Commanding Officer. His last assignment their support during the 2013 Best Ranger prior to assuming Command was to the United Competition. WAR assisted the Family Readiness States Infantry School Management Staff. Group cooking hamburgers and hotdogs that enabled the Family Readiness Group to raise more LTC Sagers award and decoration include the than $2,000.00. (with 1 ); The Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 oak leaf cluster); The Army Commendation Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters); The Army Achievement Medal; The Combat Infantryman’s Badge; the Expert Infantryman’s Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Ranger Tab; and the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.

LTC Sage is married to the former Tina M. Chandler from Fayetteville, North Carolina. They have four children; Mathew (26) Zachary (21) Hannah (13) and Noah (6).

THANK YOU WAR

In recognition of the support, the Family Readiness Group presented WAR the plaque pictured above signed by the ladies of the Family Readiness Group.

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HENRY CARO PATROL Entertainment continued after the fireworks with a TH musical chairs style game where the gifts were CELEBRATES 4 OF JULY passed between members under the direction of RGR Santini. With rain falling in Georgia, the Henry Caro Patrol gathered at the home of Patrol Leader David Santini and his wife Ann to celebrate the 237th Anniversary of our Nations independence. Seven families gathered to enjoy the fellowship and a “low country” boil prepared by RGR Santini.

Passing gift to the left

After several passes to the left, to the right, and across the circle, the gifts were opened the by individuals as everyone discovered what each person received. The small gifts were compliments of David and Ann.

RGR Bacerra inspects the food

The rain stopped falling and everyone moved outdoors to enjoy the low country boil followed by a fireworks display provided by RGR Santini’s son- RGR Santini inspects his prize in-law Gary. 11

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American from Boston; who was assigned to the KOREAN WAR VETERANS 25th Infantry Division. TH RETURN FOR 60 Anniversary Seoul is now an amazing example of what the RGR Bob Gilbert, RGR Joe Gagnon and their wives Korean people could accomplish with a hand up returned to Korea on 22 June as guests of the rather than a handout. They are industrious, happy Korean Government to celebrate the 60th and healthy and if it was not Asia you would think Anniversary of the Armistice that ended the Korean you were in any American city with all the War. skyscrapers and people moving around. Young people dress just like American young people. The following is RGR Gilberts recollection of his Korean War experience and his return visit 60 years While we had no time during the war for looking at later. anything but duties, I have to say most of the Korean women now I observed are quite beautiful. Joe and I both left there in 1951 but I went back Almost everyone speaks good English and they between 1952 & 1953 and was there when it ended. are grateful for what we did to help them maintain Joe came to the 187th Regimental Combat Team freedom from communism. from 5th Ranger Company but left after a couple of months and volunteered for the 5th Regimental They seemed to not be able to do enough for us and Combat Team and went back to Korea. continuously pushed gifts into our hands. At their War Memorial they have large Copper plaques I was in the Eastern X Corps area the first time and listing by State every single American casualty of IX Corps the 2nd time about 60 miles from Seoul that War along the hallways of one area. which was a big political prize for both sides. After the cease fire we made a pay drop on an island in Joe pointed out a rusty Soviet Burp gun on display the Han River at Seoul. The city was destroyed after and I could almost hear the rapid pop, pop, pop, having changed hands several times in the war. The sound of it again. Memories are alive. Each day I island is now a built up area; we passed the area was there I remembered some of the Korean enroute to the DMZ. We also passed Munsan-ni - language but had to ask what some of it meant after the location of the 187th Regimental Combat Teams 62 years. second airborne assault during March 1951. I lost a boyhood friend there - Joe Thompson from South The Korean Military Patriots and Veterans Affairs Boston. Joe was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th (MPVA) paid for everything except a part of our Regimental Combat Team. Air Fare to and from Korea. We stayed in a Five Star Hotel with $40.00 lunches and $60.00 dinners News media of that time mentioned the Han River daily. They provided the buses we used for travel ran red with the blood of tens of thousands of and a huge banquet with Kobe Beef you could cut Chinese trying to take Seoul a second time during with a fork. The entertainment was terrific from January 1951. I lost another boyhood friend there start to finish. This program is scheduled to end in on January 2, 1951. Jimmy Abdon, a Syrian December this year.

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FRAGO 3-13 http://rangers-army.org 12 July 2013 WORLDWIDE ARMY RANGERS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION $25.00 $250 $25.00 $250 Annual Life RANGER MEMBER Annual Life ASSOCIATE MEMBER

LAST NAME FIRST NAME MIDDLE NAME

STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE + 4

HOME OF RECORD

PHONE E-MAIL AKO

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION (Optional) NAME: ______phone # ______

QUALIFICATION(S): (Ranger School Class Number) (Ranger Unit and dates assigned.) RANGER CLASS # GRAD DATE RANGER UNIT DATES ASSIGNED

APPLICANT’S OATH I affirm that I have read and understand the WAR Membership Criteria and the information submitted on this member application form is true, correct, and voluntarily given. I understand that the membership or status entitles me to the rights and privileges specified in the WAR By-laws.

APPLICANTS SIGNATURE DATE

MAIL APPLICATION AND CHECK TO: (Make Check/Money Order payable to: Worldwide Army Rangers)

RGR Pete Bacerra RGR Bob Dawes Treasurer MEMBERSHIP 7164 Paprika Lane 3710 E. 30TH Avenue Columbus, GA 31909-2607 Denver, CO 80205 [email protected] [email protected]

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