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!St Special Forces Group 60Th Anniversary

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!St Special Forces Group 60Th Anniversary JULY 2017 VOL 70 President’s Message Chapter 16 Newsleer Organizaon and Responsibilies: Our formaon suffered the loss of two of our longstanding Brothers over Editor: Glen Craig these last weeks. Jim Lessler and Walt Hetzler were well respected Secons: members of our forma on and contributed immensely to Special Forces Message from the President: Stephen Durfee and SFA Chapter 16 over the years. I am sure I speak for all of us when we Treasurers Report: Willi Linder say it was an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity to know Sec. Rpt (Staff Meeng Minutes): Mike Barkstrom these fantasc men. We will always be here for their families and stand Sick Call/Obituary: Chaplain Butch Hall ready to protect and support them wherever we can be of value. Special thanks to Chaplin Butch, the Cassidy team and CPT Ron for all the support Blast from the Past: Glen Craig as well as anyone I missed who stood this tough duty. Special Recognion: Mike Barkstrom We completed our recruitment drive on 22 June at the 1st SFG(A) Upcoming Events: Mike Barkstrom Organizaonal day and are awaing the tally of new members from SFA Calendar: Stephen Durfee Naonal. The CH 16 members provided beer and support to the event Human Interest Story: Chapter at large which was reported as the best Org Day in 20 years. We also conducted SFA Naonal HQ Update: Stephen Durfee the Coffee Stop, led by CSM (ret) Pennington, at the Marysville rest stop Aer Acon Report: Jim Lessler and generated close to $1000.00. We have our annual picnic coming up Membership Info: Roy Sayer out at the Paon Ranch on 12 Aug that culminates with our and gun Adversements: Glen Craig raffle! We wanted to thank the Paon’s and the Gates Team for all they do for CH 16 especially for the picnic.Oktoberfest will soon be upon us and Suspense: we are synchronizing with the 3rdBN and other underground st Newsleer published (Web): 1 of each brewers to make this a memorable event on 14 Oct. odd numbered month Lastly it would be impossible for our organizaon to have the degree of Input due to editor: 20th of each success we do without the Board members. Thank you, Eric, Willi, and even numbered month Mike, for keeping it all together and standing in when work prevents me. It is also important to point out John Becker who has fielded many ques ons Dra due to President: 27th of each and facilitated and led the recruitment drive. Thank you to the Chapter 16 even numbered month Brothers and Family for allowing me to serve this great organizaon. Final Dra due 29th of each Stephen P. Durfee SGM (Ret) USA even numbered month !st Special Forces Group 60th Anniversary We celebrated the 60th anniversary of the 1st SFG (A) with the Group Command Team, Soldiers and special Guests CSM (Ret) Dewy Simpson and an original FSSF veteran Eugean Guerrez. Special thanks to CSM (ret) John Illiff who hosted the gathering at his compound in Yelm. Page 1 1st Special Forces Group Organizaon Day 23 June 2017. J.K. Wright Memorial Breakfast 5/6/2017 Chapter XVI North (Recon) 5/13/2017 SFC Christopher L. Shaw Memorial Breakfast 5/20/2017 Dinosaur Luncheon 5/26/2017 J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast 6/3/2017 Page 2 SFA Chapter XVI General Meeng, June 10,2017 The meeng was called to order by President Steve Durfee at 1105, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of The Ballad of the Green Beret and the invocaon by Chaplin Butch Hall. Members in aendance: Steve Durfee, Eric Heid, Willi Lindner, Mike Barkstrom, Carey Pennington ,Bill Gates, Mike Cassidy, Dennis Guiler, Gary Villanuena, Tom Dawson, Jim Beasley , Glen Craig, John Cuskeli, Nick Marvasis, bob Smith, Ed Booth, Ken Garcy. Wives present: Steph Gates, Joy Cassidy, Erma Booth. Visitors: Addy Heid, John Hnashin, Marc Bush, Col Will Beaurpere, CW5 Duc Duclos, CSM Tony Labrec. We were addressed by the Command team from 1st Group. Col Beaurpere spoke about the 60th anniversary of the 1st Group. Will start at 1200 at the Regimental Mess‐move to Chambers Lake for round robin compleon and the Colonel would like some of the SF Rered Vets to act as Point Seers and ask to the "tough quesons". round robin compeon starts at 1430 ‐1830 round robin compeon ends and move to CSM Iliff's house for the celebraon‐ends 2300. POC CRT Bailey Colwell ([email protected]) Stated the importance of bridging the gap between acve duty and no‐acve duty SF soldiers. We now have four generaons of soldiers to draw on for guidance and history and we cannot afford to lose that connecon. His stated goal is to fill the room with SF guys in the coming year. CW5 Duc Duclos stressed that we as a whole (acve duty) need to get back to our roots and be more acve in the mission of "Teach, Train and Advise". We can train anyone to be a shooter but it takes unique men to become true Special Forces Soldiers. We are the original force mulpliers and we need to return to that role, we need your history to help us aain that goal. CSM Tony Labrec stressed that his door is open and wants to see the mutual cooperaon between acve and rered members of the Regiment work together for the benefit of all. The CSM has spent his enre career with the 1ST Group and welcomes ideas and thought from veteran s from other groups as well. He is in the process of pung together a snapshot of all who have served in SF for those who are willing to take part. Something on the order of a baseball card‐picture too. Basically the wwwww and h but really you decide what you want to say. More to follow. Chaplin Butch gave his report: Thank you card from Bob 'Grumps" Smith. Chuck Hall not doing well neither is his grandson. Spoke of the fine work Dave is doing with the Burma Rangers. Chaplin Butch reported that two of our members have laid their rucksacks down for the final me. Jim Lesser passed away on 6‐19‐2017. Interment will be at Mt. Tahoma Naonal Cemetery June 19,2017 at 1100 hours. A celebraon of life will follow at Capt. Ron's. A memorial service will be held for CSM (Ret) Walter M. Hetzler will be conducted at the North Fort Chapel, JBLM, AT 1300 21 JUL 2017 with a recepon immediately following a at the 1st Group Regimental Mess. Please RSVP to [email protected] with your full name(s) date(s) of birth and state of residence, we are aempng to facilitate access to the base‐although if this does not work out all aendees may have to obtain a day long pass through the visitors center for access to both North Fort and Ft Lewis proper prior to the service. Valid photos IDs and registraon may also be necessary. CSM Labrec stated that CSM Hetzler was the senior CSM in the Group and that one of the new buildings under construcon for the 2nd Bn will be named in his honor. Willi gave a treasurer's report and stated that we have $11,443.17 in the checking account and $4670.01 that paid a interest amount of $0.13 for the month of May. Willi is looking into the interest rate. The chapter voted to offer $500 to the families of deceased life and acve members to help defray the cost for a celebraon of life service. Old Business As a reminder any member that has to go through security starng next month will have to have an Enhanced Driver's license or a valid passport, or a government issued ID card. Your VA medical will work according to the civilian at the security counter on 10 Jun. To be safe bring as many as you have. Eric reported that the gun sales are going well and wanted to know if he should save any ckets for the picnic and was advised to sell them all beforehand if possible. The long rifle will have a Vortex 900 long range opc and the M‐4s will have AR 500 opcs, also there is a Vortex 450 range finder to be awarded to the member who sells the most ckets. All of the opcs was donated by Vortex. Put SF Crest and maybe Chapter logo on the M‐4s. John Becker reported that the membership drive will conclude on 23 Jun 2017‐so hurry up and pay your money to get the savings. Steve Dupree: Visit the website for lots of info: HTTP://www.sfa.chapter‐16.org:monthly events, Carr's 1st Saturday of the month 0830 Bridgeport Way, Tacoma, Hawks Prairie Restaurant 4rd Saturday 0830, luncheon last Friday 1130 Main Buffet, DuPont. Eric Org Day 6‐23 needs 6‐8 volunteers. Meet at Shoreline Park, park and ride 0830 on 6‐23. Call Eric if you can help‐360‐458‐8914‐all the beer you can drink and fun too. Chapter 16 picnic is August 12 at Kevin Paon's ranch in Yelm. Distro to follow‐Bill Gates and Rich Wall heading up the fesvies. They need lots of help‐give Bill a call if available.253‐931‐8918. Carey Pennington reported that we need $907 on the coffee stop and we are slated to do another o Labor Day. We have lots of supplies all ready purchased so our net should be higher this next go round.
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