Serving Sky Soldiers Past, Present and Future The Herd Word Junction City Revisited O peration Junction City was an 82-day combined US and RVN military operation, begun on 22 February 1967. It was the largest US airborne operation since Operation Market Garden during World War II, the only major airborne operation of the Vietnam War, and one of the largest US operations of the war. The US forces, in the Corps-level search and destroy operation in War Zone C, consisted of the 1st Infantry Division, with the attached 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, the 25th Infantry Division, the 173 d Airborne Brigade; and the 11th Armored Cavalry regiment. The operation had three main objectives: to search out and destroy the 9th Viet Cong Division and 101st NVA regiment based in the area; to destroy the Central Office for South Vietnam (COSVN), the enemy's headquarters in the South; and to establish a Special Forces Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) camp and airfield at Prek Klok to monitor enemy movement. On February 22, 1967, during the opening phase of Operation Junction City 845 paratroops of Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Sigholtz's 2/503d Infantry, 173 d Airborne Brigade, with A Battery, 3/319th Artillery, in attendance, jumped out of 16 C-130s a couple of miles from Katum, VN, deep in War Zone C. They were led by Brigadier General John R. Deane, Jr., the commander of the 173 d Airborne Brigade. Their task was to seize the drop zone (DZ) before moving out to link up with other units, which were arriving elsewhere by helicopter. The airborne operation ran smoothly. The paratroopers boarded their aircraft at Bien Hoa, arriving over the DZ at 0900 hours. By 0920 hours, command posts had been established on the ground and, five minutes later, heavy equipment began to arrive. There were 11 minor injuries, all caused by the jump, and no contact with the enemy. AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY In This Issue Junction City Revisited Page 1 Sigholtz Chapter 1 in 2011 Page 2 Assessments Due Page 3 Brigade Arlington Marker Page 3 Chapter 2012 Calendar Page 4 Chapter Officers Page 5 Chapter Webpage & Facebook Page Page 5 The Spartan Club Page 5 Chapter Annual Meeting Page 6 Chapter Financial Report Page 7 Photo Gallery Page 8 The outcome of the operation was mixed. All three regiments of the 9th VC Regiment had been engaged, with 2,728 Viet Cong troops killed and 34 captured. American losses included 282 killed and 1,576 wounded. A CIDG camp had been completed on May 14, but it was forced to relocate temporarily to a safe haven in Cambodia, COSVN had not been captured and continued to operate throughout the rest of the war. Enemy activity in War Zone C had been disrupted, but Operation Junction City was not, as some claimed, a turning point in the war. Operation Junction City demonstrated the ability of American forces to enter areas which had been Viet Cong sanctuaries to conduct successful search and destroy missions and construct facilities in these strongholds. In the weeks following the operation, each of the four enemy regiments under the 9th Viet Cong Division would be met and defeated. www.173dabnchap1.org Chapter One in 2011 See Page 2 www.home.hiwaay.net/~magro/173abn.html www.angelfire.com/pa2/hotshot/jc.html The 173 d Airborne Brigade in the Iron Triangle Sigholtz-Capital Chapter One 173 d Airborne Brigade Association; P.O. Box 15133; Arlington, VA 22215-0133 December 2011
Sigholtz Chapter One in 2011 Dedicated New Brigade Marker at Arlington National Cemetery On May 7, the Chapter re-installed the now timeless recognition of the service and sacrifice of Sky Soldiers, the Arlington Cemetery Brigade Marker. The dedication brought together nearly 50 Sky Soldiers and their families and friends from the Vietnam and Global War on Terrorism eras. Military representatives from our Vietnam Allies, Australia and New Zealand, participated and spoke. Annual Reading of the Names Also on May 7, the Chapter conducted its annual Reading of the Names of Sky Soldiers lost in war. This year the names of the Global War on Terrorism KIAs were read. On May 5, 2012, the names of the 1965 and 1966 KIAs will be read. Annual Walk to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall On 11 November, the former Commander of the 1-503 d and now Army Legislative Liaison, Colonel Tim McGuire attended the annual Walk to the Wall and spoke of the state and contribution of GWOT Sky Soldiers. Chapter Joins 82 nd Airborne Division s Color Guard at our Arlington National Cemetery Marker On November 10, the Chapter joined the 82 nd Airborne Division Color Guard, at the Brigade Marker, in their annual salute to Airborne Soldiers at each Airborne Unit Marker. Chapter Members and a Texas Sky Soldier and his family also visited General Williamson s grave and placed visitor stones and a small red, white, and blue bouquet on GWOT Sky Soldier graves in Section 60. Arlington National Cemetery in the Wreaths Across America Observance On December 10, following a no-host breakfast at the Marriott Key Bridge in Rosslyn, Virginia, Chapter members walked to the Arlington National Cemetery to pay their respects for the Wreaths Across America observance. Published Four Chapter Newsletters Promoted June 22-26 Annual Association Reunion in San Antonio, Texas Approximately twenty Chapter 1 Members attended the Annual Association Reunion. Before and during the reunion General Membership Meeting, the Chapter actively opposed a Bylaws change that would have allowed a majority of the Members of the Board of Directors, without any vote of the General Membership or anyone outside of the Board, at session sitting, to make any change they wished in the Association s Bylaws. These proposed changes to the Bylaws were overwhelmingly defeated. Participated in Run-up to and Actual Association Board of Directors Meetings Terry Modglin participated in the Houston Mid-Winter Meeting and John Smith, Jr. participated in the San Antonio Annual Meeting. Chapter 1 Participates in Members Services MG (Ret) Jack Deane represented Chapter 1 at COL (Ret) Charles Chuck Drake s July 22 wake and July 23 funeral. Attended at LTC (Ret) Jim Mailler s April 30 Celebration of Life and his inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery on September 26. Attended COL (Ret) Harold Biddix s October 24 burial. The Chapter provided a Color Guard and photos for both the Mailler and Biddix services, as requested by the family for the ceremonies. Honorary Chapter 1 Member Jean O Neil and COL (Ret) Fred Carlson and his wife, Mary Jo, represented the Chapter at the Carlson Platoon s (the Johnson Platoon) Annual Reunion, at the Carlson s home in Fallston, MD. Donated $200 to the Spartan Club Members, to maintain 173 d Brigade Memorial at Fort Benning Donated $173 to the Annual Warriors Run sponsored by the 173 d Airborne Brigade Association and held by the Brigade s at the base in Schweinfurt, Germany. [Need to check these facts] Donated $173 to the Australian Relief Fund. Sigholtz Generosity Through the generosity of Cis Sigholtz, mother of Captain Bobby Sigholtz for whom our Chapter is named, provided two tickets and a parking pass to GWOT Wounded Warrior Sky Soldiers for each of four Washington Redskins home games. Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 Page 2
A NEW YEAR ASSESSMENTS DUE! T he Sigholtz Chapter s fiscal year is the same as the calendar year. Like death and taxes, it is time again for annual assessments to support our Chapter and the 173 d Airborne Brigade Association programs. The Chapter assessment is $20.00 per year. For Annual Association member, the yearly assessment is an additional $24.00. The one-time Life Association Membership remains $173.00. The Sigholtz Chapter receives $8.00 of every $24.00 Association Membership fee and $52.00 of every Association Life membership. The Sigholtz Chapter membership has 294 names on the chapter roster; 182 are Association Life Members; 110 are Association Annual Members, two are Honorary (non-dues paying) members. In the best of all worlds (everyone pays their Association and Chapter assessments), the Sigholtz Chapter revenue stream would be $6,620.00. In 2011, the Association received $3,173.00 in Chapter assessments and rebates from Association dues. Twenty-one members submitted advance payments for as many as ten years. As of 1 November, only 34.6% of the Chapter members submitted annual assessments. To support our Chapter programs, we need to do better. Make your Chapter and Association Assessments checks out to the Sigholtz Capital Chapter and mail it to the Chapter at PO Box 15133, Arlington, VA 22215-0133. Help save us postage and time by paying your annual Chapter and Association assessments promptly on line, using use PayPal. Visit our website at www.173dabnchap1.org. If you owe assessments for years prior to 2012 and want more information on your past obligations, e-mail me at kvsmith173@gmail.com or call me at 252-478-9359. Ken Smith Chapter Treasurer BRIGADE ARLINGTON MARKER O n 7 May 2011, on behalf of the Association, Chapter I dedicated the new Brigade Arlington Marker. The Marker was entirely financed by Chapter 1 through private donations. Chapters 7, 9, 23, 24 and 27, and the 503 d Regimental Fund and 24 individuals contributed $3,771.00 to cover the cost of the Marker. Donations covered the $3,593.00 bill for the stone, the engraving, and the installation. However, it did not fund the $182.13 for postage and the dedication programs, nor the $156.75 needed for dedication wreathes. Through a blind auction, the Chapter is finalizing sale of the original marker for $323.00, generating a positive balance of $162.37. These funds will go into the Chapter s General Fund to help fund the Chapter s Pledge to the Memorial Foundation s Spartan Club. Thanks to President Terry Modglin for stepping up to this task and to Ed Anthony for his logistical effort developing and supervising the engraving, overseeing the installation, and committing to deliver the original stone to the new owner. (The original stone Marker will be located in either a Veterans cemetery or a private memorial dedicated to those who served and sacrificed.) Once again, Chapter I can say, Mission Accomplished! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Ken Smith Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 Page 3
Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 Calendar Year 2012 Chapter Event Date Time Day Project Officer Remarks Chapter Annual Meeting 8 Jan 2012 1300 Sunday Terry Modglin Office Building 1331 H Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 Chapter Social Event Feb 2012 TBD TBD TBD TBD Newsletter Mar 2011 N/A TBD Mack Brooks Reading of the Names 5 May 2012 1100 Saturday Terry Modglin Brigade Marker, Arlington Cemetery Newsletter Jun 2012 N/A TBD Mack Brooks 173 d Airborne Brigade Reunion 6 Jun 2012-10 Jun 2012 N/A Wed - Sunday Roy Scott 173d Association President Lexington, KY Newsletter Sep 2012 N/A TBD Mack Brooks Chapter Social Event Sep 2012 TBD TBD TBD TBD Brigade Marker and Sky Soldier Honors 10 Nov 2012 1100 Saturday Terry Modglin Brief Ceremony following 82d Airborne Color Guard Honors. Visit to MG Williamson's gravesite and Sky Soldier graves in Section 60. Walk to the Wall 11 Nov 2012 1030 Friday Terry Modglin Vietnam Memorial No-host lunch: Revival Restaurant, Key Bridge Marriott Wreaths Across America 8 Dec 2012 0800 Saturday Terry Modglin Arlington National Cemetery Newsletter Dec 2012 N/A TBD Mack Brooks Visit Wounded Warriors National Naval Medical Center Periodic TBD TBD Gene Weeks Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 Page 4
Sigholtz-Capital 1 Chapter Officers President Terry Modglin 202-270-3083 terry.modglin@gmail.com Treasurer Ken Smith 252-478-9359 kvsmith173@gmail.com Vice President Michael Belenky 410-974-4674 mmbelenky@comcast.net Secretary Dave Fultz davecf2004@gmail.com Chapter Webpage www.173dabnchap1.org Chapter Facebook Page www.facebook.com/pages/national-capital-region- Chapter-173rd-Airborne-Brigade- Association/159307410781194 The Spartan Club Earlier this year, the 173 d Airborne Brigade Memorial Foundation formed the Spartan Club to generate a $300,000 endowment fund for the Memorial. The Club s name harkens back to the 300 Spartans who in 480 BC, in a rocky mountain pass - Thermopylae - held off the mighty Persian army for seven days. Their selfless effort allowed Greek forces to muster and eventually defeat the Persian invaders. Three hundred warriors preserved the cradle of western civilization. Three hundred Spartan Warriors made a difference. The Memorial Foundation requires a minimum of $5,000.00 annually for maintenance: electricity, landscaping, and irrigation. In addition to the cost of adding new information to the Memorial, funds are required for maintenance, minor repairs, insurance, and administrative costs. To ensure perpetual care for the Memorial, the Foundation established an endowment fund goal of $300,000, raised over ten years, in addition to donations received from other sources. The Foundation is seeking 300 Spartan-like warriors willing to help preserve our legacy and maintain our memorial. It asks each Spartan Club Commander to pledge between $200 and $1,000.00 for each of the next. ten years; each Spartan Club Centurion to Pledge between $173 and $199 for the same period; and each Spartan Club Lancer to pledge between $25 and $172 for a similar period. To date, more than 135 Spartans have pledged in excess of $200,000 towards this cause. A simple contribution of $25 annually, over ten years, is not too much to ask for such a noble cause. Understanding the pledges will be cancelled in the event of adverse conditions or the death of the Sky Soldier, I urge each of you to look deep inside and support this worthy effort. Preserve this memorial that depicts our heritage. Be A Spartan! Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 Page 5
Chapter Annual Meeting The 2012 Sigholtz Capital Chapter 1 Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, January 8, 1300-1500 hours, at the downtown DC office building located at 1331 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, 9th Floor. Agenda items include: Chapter Officer Reports Election of Chapter Vice-President and Secretary for two-year terms Recognition of Chapter Sky Soldier of the Year Chapter Special Projects and Events for 2012 National Association issues New Business from the Floor You can nominate someone for Chapter Sky Soldier of the Year. Send a message to the Chapter President, Terry Modglin, indicating why the person you re recommending should be chosen as Chapter Sky Soldier of the Year. The deadline is December 24. Anyone wishing to discuss an issue in depth is encouraged to let the officers know in advance, so research can be done on the topic. All Chapter Members are welcome. Please bring your energy and ideas. If you want to be or if you want an item put on the agenda, notify the Chapter Secretary, Dave Fultz, at davecf2004@gmail.com or Chapter President, Terry Modglin, at terry.modglin@gmail.com or call 202-270-3083. Modest refreshments will be served DIRECTIONS to 1331 H STREET, NORTHWEST, WASHINGTON, DC 20005 This office building is across the street from the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and two blocks from the White House. It is between 13th and 14th Streets, NW. It is in the same building as the Cafe Mozart, a DC landmark. It is a block away from the McPherson Square Metro Station, 14th Street exit, and two blocks from the 13th Street Exit from Metro Center. Parking in Downtown DC is free on Sundays but it is usually difficult to find a parking place. Someone will be at the door of the office building to let you in. If no one is there, call 202-270-3083. Call that number if you have any questions. Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 Page 6
Chapter 1 Annual Financial Report For Calendar year 2011 through 30 November 2011, Chapter I received $5,583.96 in income and spent $7,272.95. At this time in 2010, our bank balance was $8,196.89. Our current bank balance is $6,923.31. Our income comes from dues assessments, contributions, and support of social events. Our expense elements are more complicated. As indicated elsewhere in this newsletter, the Chapter spent $3,931.63 for the Arlington Marker, while receiving to date $3,771.00. A substantial amount of our budget goes toward administrative costs. We rent a post office box, have a registered legal agent, and a Corporation fee bill. Thus far, our 2011 newsletter costs were $242.39 and this current letter will cost nearly another $100.00. Hosting the website costs $131.28 annually. The Chapter was extremely generous in supporting special causes. We donated $173.00 to the Australian Relief Fund, $173.00 to support the Brigade Running of the Herd, $200.00 to the Memorial Foundation s Spartan Club, and $150.00 for the Wreaths Across America project. One of the most meaningful services the Chapter provides is to ensure that no Sky Soldier laid to rest in Arlington goes home alone. Volunteers show up at their own expense and the Association provides a wreath. In 2011, the Chapter spent $282.25 supporting this meaningful service. Other expenses included funding for Social events ($643.90) and a service plaque for $131.25. While this is not a full accounting of the Chapter s expenses, it is an indication of how your assessments and donations are spent. Elsewhere in this Newsletter, Annual Assessments is discussed. The Chapter cannot long continue to support these activities without increased income. I urge you to look deep inside and support your Chapter through prompt payment of your annual assessments. Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 Page 7
Photo Gallery Honoring the Fallen Walk to the Wall 173 d Airborne Brigade Association Sigholtz Capital Chapter 1 P.O. Box 15133 Arlington, VA 22215-0133 Stamp Address Label AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!!! Happy New Year 2012 Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 Page 8