The Castle Newsletter
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THE CASTLE NEWSLETTER ______________________________________________________________________________________ Issue 16 July 2010 President’s Comments: Heraldic Times By Thomas R. Kurtz [email protected] We welcome home the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, who have returned from (Coat of Arms) (Insignia) Afghanistan to their home base at Joint Base Lewis- Shield: McCord, Washington. The 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Gules, a conventionalized castle of Ehrenbreitstein with Team, 2nd Infantry Division has scheduled their welcome ramp or on mount proper, debruised by a bendlet home ceremony for July 22 and, at which time, the brigade argent bearing two ribbons of the field and azure with will be re-designated as the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat seventeen mullets of the last. A sinister canton bendy Team, 2nd Infantry Division. The 3rd Battalion, 17th Field of eight ermine and of the field. Artillery Regiment is also scheduled to be re-designated as the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment on Crest: October 17 of this year. On a wreath of the colors, or and gules, a mount argent I would like to thank LTC Dennis C. Smith for garnished vert, bearing a linden leaf proper charged providing the articles written by soldiers of the 3rd with a fleur-de-lis argent. Battalion on their experiences, as they served in Afghanistan. The articles have previously appeared on-line Motto: or have been published in the local newspapers around In Time of Peace Prepare for War. Fort Lewis and they have been reprinted in this edition of “The Castle”. For those 17th veterans who live in the area Symbolism: of Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington, the 3rd The field of the shield is red, the artillery color. The Battalion’s Change of Command for LTC Smith is principal charge is the castle of Ehrenbreitstein scheduled for September 9, 2010. bedruised by a bendlet carrying the American colors As the 3rd Battalion comes home our prayers, and seventeen stars, to signify the occupation of the thoughts and best wishes turn to the 1st Battalion as they castle by the 17th Field Artillery. The canton alludes to depart for their first deployment in support of the the arms of the 8th Field Artillery from which men International Security Force Afghanistan (ISFA) for were transferred to organize the 17th Field Artillery. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). I’m sure we wish all The crest commemorates the two most noteworthy members of the battalion the best of luck and for a safe battle incidents. The White Mountain is for Blanc return home next year. Mont. The leaf is taken from Verte Feuille Farm, on of Many thanks to Jack Stroud and all of the members of the positions occupied by the regiment in the Soissons the 2010 Scholarship Selection Committee for their offensive; the linden leaf was chosen as being very personal time that they devoted in selection of this year’s common in that region. The fleur-de-lis is from the scholarship grant winners. Since 2004 the association has arms of Soissons. awarded seventeen grants for a total of $18, 000. The association scholarship grants are made possible by the DISTINCTIVE INSIGNIA membership of the association, without this support the The distinctive insignia is the shield of the coat of arms. scholarship program would not happen. The association’s 2010 annual reunion is just a couple of months away, if you have not made plans on attending now is the time to do so. This will be the twelfth reunion ========================================== held by the association. There are plenty of sights and shows to be seen in Pigeon Forge, so make sure you bring Hunter F. Brunwald your family and friends. The reunion notice mailed out in Currently attending January 2010 had an incorrect street address for the Eisenhower Senior Country Cascades; the correct street address is: 204 High School Sharon Drive. I’m looking forward to this year’s reunion Lawton, Oklahoma and hope all 17th Artillery veterans who can attend will be With a 4.0 GPA there. $1,000.00 2010 Scholarship Grants Hunter is the son of: Jackie M. Stroud Chairman Scholarship Committee CSM Philip J. Brunwald During the association’s annual general membership Who is presently meeting held at the 2009 reunion, three scholarship grants serving as Command Sergeant Major with for 2010 were voted on and authorized; one grant for one th thousand five hundred dollars ($1500) and two grants for the 1/17 FAR at Fort one thousand dollars ($1000) each. Sill. There were fourteen requests for scholarship application packets received and eight applicants returned a completed packet. ========================================== Each returned application was reviewed independently by the voting members of the committee and awarded points Hugh G. Lazenberry based on their best judgment using the information Jr. contained in the packet. Currently attending Friendswood High Once each voting members scoring form was returned to School me, I established an Order of Merit List (OML) based on Friendswood, Texas totaling the points awarded by all voting members. The With a 4.0 GPA 2010 voting committee members consisted of volunteers from our last reunion: $1,000.00 Gilbert A. Bernabe Donald L. Brooks Hugh is the grandson Larry W. Lovejoy John C. Melasecca Jr of: Terry Wallace Daniel L. Lazenberry He served in the 17th The 2010 winners of the association Field Artillery in Korea scholarship grants in order of merit: 1951 - 1952. ========================================== Congratulations to our Scholarship winners this Cody O. Fouts year, and a big thank you to our committee who diligently Attending went through all of the applications and scored each and South Forsyth High every one of the applications presented to them. The School scoring was amazingly close and I was glad I did not have Atlanta, Georgia to vote to break any ties in the selection this year. It's great With a 4.0 GPA to see we have such intelligent young ones who are aggressively seeking to get to the next level. $1,500.00 Again Congratulation. Cody is the son of: Neal P. Fouts Jack Stroud He served with: Scholarship Chairman Service 2/17 FA 17th Artillery Regimental Association Vietnam 1968, and A 3/17th Artillery 1968- 69 in Germany 2 Scholarship winner update: husband Terry. Both of these men were Viet Nam veterans. Please keep these families in your thoughts Dear Mr. Thomas Kurtz and the 17th Artillery Regiment and prayers as well as our troops overseas now. Association. JoanieJames, 10694 Berrywood Circle, I just wanted to send a quick note to thank you as well as Yucaipa, CA 92399 update you. I received a scholarship in the fall of 2006 to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. I’ve since Tony Lopez, 11543 Jonathan Rd, Jacksonville, graduated and I have a degree in psychology as well as an FL 32225 elementary teaching certificate. I am currently teaching 1st Grade in Superior, CO. Thank you very much for Sometimes our lives seem to carry more burdens awarding me that generous scholarship. It no doubt helped than other times. We see news stories about earthquakes me achieve my dreams of becoming a teacher! killing 100,000 people in another country. We hear about ethnic cleansing, starvation, religious wars, unemployment Katie Bolger rate so high, and a family member in the hospital. I think you can get the picture. Katie is the daughter of Frank Bolger who served as Motor Sergeant for Headquarters Battery, 2nd Howitzer These are times that we must not look at what we Battalion, 17th Artillery, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and in An DON'T have but what we DO have! This is also a time Khe, South Vietnam, from January 1965-September 1966. when we need to pray for our fellow man. Most of us know very well how your life can change in a split second. The bottom line to this is the word "FAITH." A Few Words From The Treasurer In Hebrews 13:5 God says, " Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you." This is a powerful As always, the best part of my job as Treasurer is statement. Hebrews Chapter 11 is filled with many stories to give away money for Scholarships and support for our of people and their faith along with what they overcame. troops. In the first six months of 2010, the 17th Artillery Regiment Association has been privileged to give out three Several years ago I made a challenge to myself to Scholarships for a total of $3,500 to the children or read one chapter a day of the New Testament. It takes at grandchildren of 17th Artillery veterans. We also donated the most two-six minutes. After almost a year I completed $1,000 for the 3/17th FA Homecoming. my challenge. I was so thrilled to tell my late grandfather of my accomplishment. I'll never forget his reply. Currently, the Association has a total of $8,975.79 in the bank; $6,635.687 in the Scholarship Fund and $2340.11 in the General Fund. "That's good. Now go back and read it again to see what you missed." After about a dozen times later and Our 12th Reunion is coming up in a couple of a few years I saw the truth in what he said and still do! months in Pigeon Forge, TN. I hope to see all of there. I challenge you to try this at one chapter a day for Rich Siebe just a few minutes starting either with the Old or New Treasurer Testament. Trust me, the change will be lifelong! 17th Artillery Regiment Association God Bless, Richard A.