|
ANNUAL RANGER MUSTER 2008 AFTER ACTION REPORT
By Ranger Walter Eckhardt,
Director Northern Region
The Annual Ranger Muster 2008, 15 to 19 September, was very successful. The location, Lake George, New York was beautiful and sunny all of the days. A total of 45 Rangers were preregistered for the ARM. Unfortunately, Ranger Bob Gill and his wife Janis were unable to travel from Texas due to the effects of hurricane Ike. Two local Rangers, William Johnson and Dennis Skidmore were walk-ins. There were 29 guests of Rangers and three special guests; Rosalie Beach, the “Littlest Ranger” and her daughter Corinne Margulies and son William Beach. Rosalie Beach became a civilian employee of the Ranger Training Center in 1950 when the first of the Korean War Rangers began training. She remained there until she retired. She supported Ranger training for more than 30 years. She gave a very interesting talk on supplying the various livestock needed to provide Ranger training for “living off the land”.
Several Rangers from the Korean War attended including Ranger John Walsh, the President of the Association of Ranger Infantry Companies (Airborne) of the Korean War (RICA). Also from RICA were Rangers Gene Kuta, Joe Lynch, and Tom Guthrie from the 6th Ranger Company; Rangers “Mack” McAbee, Maurice Mailhot, Joe Gagnon, and Walt Eckhardt from the 5th Ranger Company, and Ranger Jack Singlaub who was on the staff of the Ranger Training Center in 1950 and early 1951.
A welcome Mixer on Monday, the first night of the ARM, was attended by 55 Rangers and guests. During the Mixer, the “Status of the Regiment” was presented by the 75th Ranger Regiment Public Affairs Officer, Ms. Tracy Bailey. On Tuesday, a guided bus tour of Saratoga Springs described the life styles and showed the residences of the early visitors of the Spa and summer get-a-way for the well to do of the late 19th century.
Two guided bus tours to Ranger historical sites were conducted. On Wednesday Rangers and guests went to Rogers Island, Fort Ticonderoga and “Rogers Rock”. On Thursday the tour went to the Saratoga Battlefield and Bennington Monument. “Rogers Rock”, on the west side of Lake George, is the place where legend has it that Robert Rodgers outwitted his French and Indian pursuers by wearing his snowshoes backwards as he descended from the top. The Indians believed that he had gone up and then slid over 1,000 feet down the shear face of the rock to the ice of Lake George. A historical study of the event is provided at: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/articles/snowshoe.htm.
In the Battle of Bennington, Ranger John Stark defeated a British force that was trying to capture supplies and material. The Battle was fought about 5 miles West of Bennington VT, while the monument is at the location of the supply warehouse in Bennington. Deprived of the supplies from Bennington, British General Burgoyne decided to press on towards Albany. Burgoyne was defeated in several days of battles and surrendered at Saratoga. That led to France coming in on the side of the American Colonies and led to the last battle at Yorktown. The Saratoga Battle is considered the turning point in the Revolutionary War.
The dinner cruise on Lake George Thursday evening provided another view of the Lake and the surrounding hills. There were 55 Rangers and Guests on the ship. The buffet dinner was plentiful and the scenery outstanding. The General Membership meeting of USARA was held Friday afternoon. In the evening, 77 Rangers and Guests attended the Ranger Banquet. Rosalie Beach spoke about her time as an employee of Ranger Training activities at Fort Benning. Ranger John Walsh read a Ranger poem he wrote in the 1980’s and he presented President Linc German with a USARA banner. Ranger (MG) Jack Singlaub was the featured speaker. A slide presentation of his career was used as the introduction to his talk. He related the activities of the OSS during World War II to the tactics and tradecraft of today’s Special Operations Forces.
The outstanding site, weather, and the activities for Rangers and guests made for a very successful ARM. Recommend that future ARMs include activities that are of interest to our guests and not only to Rangers.
|
|
|
Rangers,
Reporting on the Annual Ranger Muster 2006 Branson, Missouri, 15-18 June 2006 - an unqualified success.
Rangers, and guests, in attendance converged on Branson from 14 states (Georgia, Missouri, Virginia, New Mexico, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, North Carolina, Maryland, Washington, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas) and 1 other country (Canada).
The capstone of the ARM was the Banquet Friday evening and speaker Ranger Dana Bowman - an internationally acclaimed inspirational and motivational speaker - who with his own military contacts was able to give the audience in real-time (through his cell phone and email communications earlier in the day) of what our Rangers and military personnel were accomplishing (all unclassified) in the Terrorism War in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The audience, to a person, hung on every word and tidbit of information as to what our Rangers, servicemen and servicewomen were doing in the war overseas and hearing how well America was being represented by our military personnel.
As MC, I related how, while driving the 40 miles between the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport and Branson, after meeting Dana's flight on Thursday, I personally heard how he "worked" his cell phone, making and receiving calls, to assist and mentor a recently returned young soldier (hailing from Alabama), double-amputee, from Iraq, in making the readjustment to life, rehabilitation, and a productive life with Dana's motto being the goal: "It's not the Disability, It's the Ability!"
Ranger John Senor's email, in part, received today: "BTW, spent 3 hours in the Airport with Dana Bowman. Talk about the real deal. He got at least 6 calls from injured vets he was helping, all between 5 and 8 AM! I am humbled just knowing him. What a fing roll model. And, just a regular guy. I can't believe he looks up to us guys. But, he does. Unbelievable."
Ranger Samuel Hernandez (at the request of the MC), provided the expertise in giving the "on-the-spot" command of the color guard from the Missouri Army National Guard (several Terrorism War veterans having served in Iraq), who came from Springfield, Missouri, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fayetteville, Arkansas, in the posting and retiring of the Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag.
Ranger Gregg Orth (former All Army and Chicago Bears tackle/linebacker) led us in both the Invocation and before closing and retiring of the Colors, the Benediction.
Ranger Steve Maguire, presiding and President of the U.S. Army Ranger Association, gave his report on the importance of USARA steadfast, sundry and varied support of the Rangers, the RTB, the RR and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ranger Battalions throughout the past year, and the pledge that newly elected administration would continue the positive and productive policies that his administration initiated.
Known as the "littlest Ranger", Rosalie Beach, who spent 32 years in the RTB, shared some of her memories and fascinating experiences working with Rangers over the years, which will eventually be published in a book that she is now writing.
A special presentation was made to Ranger Maguire by Emory Dockery, Executive Director, of The Darby Foundation, with headquarters in Fort Smith, Arkansas, birthplace of Ranger (BG) William O. Darby.
Special acknowledgement and appreciation was made by the undersigned to Ranger Frank Casey, Ranger Mike Ranger and Ranger Pete Rothrock for their valued assistance, and sharing of responsibility to assure a successful ARM2006BRANSON.
Ranger Maguire then passed the "Ranger baton" to incoming President, U.S. Army Ranger Association, Ranger Linc German. Ranger German announced that the growth and strength of the U. S. Army Ranger Association would continue under his leadership, and that his goal is to be responsive to the needs and aspirations of Rangers and their organizations.
The Radisson Hotel at Branson, served as a perfect venue for our Muster, maintaining its well-earned reputation of being pro-military and professional in hosting military conventions. Special recognition and thanks from the U. S. Army Ranger Association goes to Kristie Blakley (Sales Manager), Roger Tedder (Catering Manager) and Jerry McCoy (Banquet Manager).
The next Ranger event will be the Ranger Hall of Fame (28-30 June 06) at Fort Benning, Georgia. USARA members Ranger (MG) John Singlaub, Ranger Mike Ranger, and Ranger Clark Welch will be inducted into the RHOF. Each of them has always set the highest standard for all Rangers. Ranger Jim Gardner, Medal of Honor recipient, posthumously, for his heroic courage in Vietnam will be inducted into the RHOF and his heroism again recognized and again remember for his devoted service to the United States of America.
Rangers, without your support and teamwork, such Ranger successes would not occur. Always take the time and make the effort to support Rangers and our Armed Forces. Rangers who "walk this walk" include Ranger Maguire, Ranger Bowman and Ranger German, who all visit Walter Reed Army Hospital, and other military hospitals, to provide encouragement, concern, fellowship and help to our returning wounded American veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. These Rangers are leading the way in the best way possible, and for that every Ranger thanks them.
In closing, thank you for supporting ARM2006BRANSON, watch for news and info on the upcoming Ranger Hall of Fame 2006 Induction, plan now to attend ARM2007FORTBENNING, and take some "action" to support our American Military Veterans of the Terrorism War.
Hang tough Guys!
RLTW
Tim
20 June 2006
2006 ARM Expense Report
Schedule of Events
Registration Form
|
