Newsletter

October 6, 2011

MEETING:  Our next meeting, of the Texas Lone Star Chapter, is Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the South Houston American Legion Post 490, located at 11702 Old Galveston Road across from Ellington Field.  The meeting will start at 12:30 PM. 

CHAPTER WEBSITE:  Visit the Chapter website: www.texaslonestar82nd.org

82^ND AIRBORNE DIVISION ASSOCIATION WEBSITE:  www.82ndassociation.org

82^nd AIRBORNE DIVISION:  www.bragg.army.mil/www-82dv

CHAPTER ELECTIONS:  The Chapter will conduct the elections of the 2012 officers during our meeting.  The positions are Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer, 3 Trustees, Color Guard Trustee, and News Letter Editor.

TAPS:  General Alexander Bolen passed away on October 6, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.  He was 89 years old.  He was a son of a World War II General and he also served in Europe at the end of the World War II as a fresh, new West Point Lieutenant. When the 82nd Airborne Division was called to action during the Tet Offensive, which swept across the Republic of Vietnam in January 1968, then Colonel Bolen, commanded the 3rd Brigade, and had the brigade enroute to Chu Lai within 24 hours.  He was a soldier’s General who loved his men.  Everyone will miss him.  He was a member of the Golden Brigade Chapter.

New Orleans Archbishop Philip M. Hannan passed away on September 29, 2011 in his home in Covington, LA.  He was 98 years old.  Archbishop Hannan was archbishop in New Orleans from September 29, 1965 until December 6 1988. 

During World War II, he was the Catholic Chaplain to the 505^th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82^nd Airborne Division.  He last attended the 2008 National Convention in St. Louis, MO wearing his World War II uniform.  During the war he was known to the troopers as “The Jumping Padre.”

NEW FREEFALL PARACHUTE:  The Army has a new freefall parachute that is designed to fly you farther with heavier gear and end with a soft touchdown.  The Army has put up $27 million for 3,600 new freefall parachutes to replaced the aging MC-4 model and take over as the military’s primary tactical chute for “high altitude low opening” and “high altitude high opening” operations.  The new system is called the Military Free Fall Advanced Ram Air Parachute System with the Intruder design.  The parachute can be deployed between 3,500 and 35,000 feet mean sea level.  It can also be converted for Static-line jumps and engineered to handle up to 450 pounds.

WITHIN THE DIVISION:  The 82^nd Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion and Combat Aviation Brigade have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

2011 NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY RESOLUTION:  Senate Resolution 254, proclaiming august 16, 2011 as National Airborne Day was passed August 2, 2011 before the Reno, NV National  Convention and is posted on the Association website.

CHINOOK TURNS 50, LOOKS TOWARD FUTURE:  The Ch-47 was originally designed and built to haul missiles the U.S. Army no longer uses.  The cargo aircraft celebrated its 50^th year of flight with the U.S. Army September 21 during the opening ceremony of a renovated Boeing Company CH-47 Chinook factory in Ridley Park, PA.  The most current model I the CH-47F.

WORKING ON RECRUITING MEMBERSHIP:  Thanks for those of you who are recruiting new members.  One of the best things to do is to wear an “Airborne” cap or other Airborne identifying item.  Keep copies of the application with you and sign them up and get their dues.

“American’s Guard of Honor”

AFRICA SICILY ITALY FRANCE THE NEATHERLANDS BLEGIUM GERMANY

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC VIETNAM GRENADA APNAMA PERSIAN GULF