A Different Christmas Story

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a paratrooper, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts…
To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said “It’s really all right.

I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night. ”
“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers. ”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”

” So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right. ”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son. “

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us. “

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Association President’s Message – November 2019

November 30, 2019

Dear Fellow Rangers,

Message from the 425^th Regimental Association President.

To all of the great men that have served Companies E and F of the 425^th Infantry Regiment:

It is my distinct honor and privilege to have been nominated and elected as your 425^th Regiment Association President this past June at our yearly Association Meeting which took place during our annual picnic.

This is my first general message to you, hoping that it finds you and yours in the best health possible and pursuing happiness.

This may seem a bit long, due to the fact that I have four endeavors I had first outlined at our recent Dining – Out this past October at Baker’s in Milford.

My delay in sending this out, was due primarily to pay respect to the sudden and untimely passing of our dear brother and friend John Bunge. He will be remembered by those of us that had the privilege to know him, by his great sense of humor and many other traits. I did not want this first message to intrude in anyone’s time of reflection.

The original draft had actually begun with the names of those comrades whom have parted from this life:

1SG Jack Groner
SGT Russell Poynter
SSG David Waid
SSG Edward (Recon Red) Kerwin
SGT Thomas Rohroff
1LT Ralph Miller
SFC James Rasmussen
1LT Jessie Willson
SPC Jerry Kit
SSG Joseph Harnish
SGT Leonard Worlen
SPC Randy Parr
SGT Chester Perkins
1LT Robert Freeman
SGT Melvin McGowan
SGT Lonnie Anderson
CW4 Richard Pineage
SFC John Corkery
SGT Gary Richards
SPC Michael McArthur
SGT James Androyna
SPC David Cummings
SGT Timothy Carlson
SFC Matthew Hilton
SFC Carl Peck
SPC Glenn Demers
SPC James Sturgis
MAJ Lance Waldorf
MAJ Robert (RJ) Smith
SGT Robert (Buck) Chewning
SPC Eddie Sykes
SGT Robert Nanni
SSG Phil Metevia
LTC John Koehler
SSG Guy Skarbardis
LT Matthew Szymanski
LTC Thomas Tack (Our first Commander)
SGM Tom Nevison
SGT Dale Remley
SPC Randy Parr
SGT Brian Zoldowski
SGT Robert Ankony
SFC Rick Essex
SPC Robert Edwards
SPC Frank Gawronski
SSG Charles Nelson
SSG Pete Bonderczuk
1LT Duane Gardner
SPC Ryan Martin
SSG Richard Nichols
SP4 Michael Van Tuyl
SSG Ron Hewelt
SGT John Bunge

At the Dinning Out I had mentioned that we needed to ensure we could all get together more often, as we also are getting older and some of us, myself included, may take that ride into the sunset when we may least expect it.

Allow me to begin:

Proposal 1:

We should establish a network of local breakfasts by region, anywhere where you live and may have other fellow Company F members nearby, that would wish to get together.

It can be breakfast, lunch, dinner, whatever you would like. It can be monthly, every other month, or every six months.

What we are looking to do, is to have volunteers that wish to become the “regional leader” in your area, and establish a date and time for your event.

All you need to do is let us know so we can publish it in our general newsletter or perhaps we’ll issue a monthly reminder of these smaller events.

Example: Dean Burchill (I pick on him because he would like to be able to have an earlier breakfast he can attend and then get to work) would lead a breakfast near his home and provide the address and time. Any and all are welcome, and whoever shows up, along with Dean, determine when to have the next one. As stated, it can be monthly, every other month; it does not matter when or how often, as long as we have the time available and get together.

So, if you are interested, please let me know. You can reply to this email (do not reply to all and tie up people’s inboxes), and we can begin this effort. We hope to have a monthly list of such smaller events that we can participate if we are available, whether we live nearby or just happen to be traveling in that area and can make the time to be there.

Proposal 2:

Re-establish our time proven “Ranger Buddy” program. If you now have one, great, if you don’t, pick one. The idea is to maintain contact, assist that Ranger Buddy, if needed, by getting him to events if because of old age \ illness, cannot make the trip. Our picnic is only once a year, our Ranger Rendezvous is only once a year, the LRRA Rally in Branson, MO is only once a year (see more on this event in my next Proposal. It is no shame if you need help getting somewhere. Anyone can have more than one Ranger Buddy, the entire idea is to leave no one behind.

Proposal 3:

LRRA (Long Range Reconnaissance Association) Rally in Branson, MO is a once a year event where two to three hundred former LRPs, LRRPs and LRS get together for about five to six days.

We eat, drink, go to any of the hundred plus local shows (this is the Nashville West of the Mississippi), attend LRRA provided meals, raffle, etc. Time is running out, as the Vietnam LRPs and LRRPs are getting older, and won’t be around forever. You get to meet and personally chat with the likes of Gary Linderer, Ron “Mother” Rucker, Ron Piper, etc. Many of these LRRPs went on to form the Ranger letter companies. Several Charlie Rangers come out as well. We have many from E and F 51st Infantry which served in Germany.

This proposal which I first brought up at our last picnic’s association meeting, is that our 425 Regimental Association would help subsidize a charter bus to Branson, and get us there safely (I for one have been driving down there since 2016 and have no regrets, and have taken as many as three more guys with me. Scott Bradley has been making the same trip with one of his Ranger Buddies). If needed we could ask a small amount from each man that goes to offset the cost of renting such a vehicle.

We need to know how many of you would be willing to take this approach to the Rally. Send me an email please, and we will begin to formulate a plan. The Rally dates are 03 – 07 June 2020, we used to start on a Friday, but most have felt it was not long enough. Once you’ve been there, you will understand.

We will know more, once we have a good number to work with. The road trip is about twelve hours, we anticipate a commercial coach will make that easily in one stretch and perhaps faster.

Proposal 4:

Establish the ability for all of us to cast our collective vote via email for most Association decisions.

It is not feasible for us to have a once a year Association meeting, and only at such time conduct business/seek an all Association vote on any given proposal tabled at the meeting.

I seek your support in this endeavor so we can conduct business during the year and keep YOU involved. The Association Board cannot and should not make major decisions without your collective approval.

The way this would work, the Association will email you a ballot with one or more proposals on it. Each Board Member would be copied in that email.

You in turn would select your options to approve or not approve each proposal.

Once completed, you would simply reply to all of the Association Board members with your attached completed ballot. Each Association Board member will tally the ballot results, and only when all numbers match across all Board Members, will the vote be cast to either approve/not approve the proposal(s).

I ask that you send me an email stating whether you would be in favor or not in favor of having this ability to cast votes via email.

In closing, thanks in advance for any and all responses to any\or all of the four proposals above.

Once again, it is an honor to be your President, you can reach out to me at any time at [email protected]

Fernando Campos

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425th Regimental Association

E-Newsletter

Fall 2019 Edition

NOTE: If you are using a military email address or an email address from your employer, we recommend that you use a personal email account. This is so we can stay in contact with you regardless of your employment or military status.

Online Membership and Shopping on the Regimental website

You can renew your membership online through the Membership Center on the Association website. You can also purchase Regimental clothing, coins, license plates, and decals through the Regimental Quartermaster Store. We accept payment by PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard.

The Year in Review

Regimental Rendezvous

The Association made a few changes this year. Instead of holding the Regimental Rendezvous at Camp Grayling we partnered with the Michigan Ranger Base (the Michigan chapter of the Army Ranger Association) to conduct it at ‘Winne Acres’, the Home of the Base near Marine City.

The afternoon started with firing on two ranges. There was amble opportunity for firing both pistols and rifles. Our Rangers came prepared and every one had a good time.

After the ranges were closed the bar was opened and everyone tried to outdo the other with “jump lies.” Pieter Winne did a great jump preparing a wonderful dinner. Some of our guys stayed overnight and carried on the fun until the wee hours.

Regimental Reunion Dinner

We relocated the venue of our Reunion Dinner from the Bruce VFW Post to Bakers of Milford. This is a more centrally located site and we saw some improved participation as a result.

We made a last minute change to ditch the buffet and order from a special menu. This seemed to be a good change and most were happy with their selections.

Retired CSM Andy Albright was our guest speaker and entertained us with stories about the unit from his perspective.

VA Benefits

I don’t know if you guys are aware of it but you can get both eyeglasses and hearing aids through the VA. You do NOT have to have a service-related problem to get this benefit.

Veterans Day Discounts

Happy Veterans Day! Veterans Day is celebrated this year on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. The Federal Holiday will be on the same day.

Many restaurants and companies thank our veterans each year by offering them discounts or a free meal.

To those companies offering veterans a free meal or discount, the military community gives a collective thanks!

By using the link below you’ll find a continuously updating list of this year’s restaurant offers for veterans. Last year over 100 restaurants participated. Most restaurants announce offers at the end of October, up through Veterans Day.

https://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/

425th Regimental Association Board of Directors & Contact Information

President: Fernando Campos – [email protected]

Vice President Mark Evans – [email protected]

Secretary: Tony Lopiccolo – [email protected]

Treasurer: Tom Neff – [email protected]

Historian: Don Bugg – [email protected]

RCSM: Dean Burchill – [email protected]

Adjutant: Bob Wangen – [email protected]

Quartermaster: David Lincicome – [email protected]

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National Day of the Deployed

All citizens of this country should appreciate those servicemen and women that have deployed to a theater of operations in defense of freedom. All veterans have served. Those that have deployed have had to take that extra step and put their lives on the line. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13. All gave some, some gave all.

NATIONAL DAY OF DEPLOYED HISTORY

Shelle Michaels Aberle founded National Day of the Deployed in 2006. Ms. Aberle approached then North Dakota Governor John Hoeven for support of a North Dakota Proclamation for the day. Governor Hoeven was the first governor in the United States to recognize deployed troops in a formal proclamation.

Aberle’s cousin, Bottineau, ND native LTC David Hosna, chose October 26th to recognize troops. Hosna, who was deployed to Iraq from Kaiserslautern, Germany, was born on October 26th.

Grand Forks, North Dakota hosted the first event. The first units honored by this proclamation were: NDARNG 1-188^th ADA SECFOR and JLENS deployed to Afghanistan.
In 2011, Senator John Hoeven led the efforts and co-sponsored S.RES.295 for a national day of honor. On October 18, 2011, the resolution passed unanimously for the first national day honoring deployed troops and their families.
As of 2012 all 50 states observed National Day of the Deployed.

HOW TO OBSERVE #DayOfTheDeployed

Many deployed troops leave their families behind to serve their country. They make the greatest sacrifices to keep their country secure. A few ways to recognize their services include:

Donate to a military organization like the USO. They support troops in the U.S. and overseas. The USO also provides support to the families before, during and after service.
Send care packages. Visit Support Out Troops to find out what and where to send care packages worldwide.
Locally, attend ceremonies honoring the military.
Volunteer your time and services to local military organizations.
If you know a military family, ask what support they need. Needs vary by family. Some just need to hear from home.
Offer to support military personnel who have no family. They deploy with no one back home to send care packages or other support.

Use #DayOfTheDeployed to post on social media.

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425th Regimental Reunion Dinner – Saturday, October 5, 2019

425th Regimental Reunion Dinner

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Bakers of Milford

2025 S Milford Rd, Milford, MI 48381

You are cordially invited to attend the 2018 Regimental Reunion Dinner. This is a great opportunity to renew past friendships and make some new ones.

The Reunion Dinner will include a buffet dinner, and an cash bar. There will also be unit and association t-shirts, hats, coins, and other memorabilia on sale.

1700 Bar opens

1800 Induction of Association officers

1830 Dinner

1930 Guest Speaker – TBA

2200 Formal activities are concluded. Members are invited to stay longer and socialize in the Post Club Room.

The cost of this event is $35 per person. Payment must be made in advance NLT September 22, 2019. This event is open to members of the 425th Regimental Association and their guests only. If you are not a member or your membership has expired, you must join or renew your membership to attend.

For credit card payments click on this link – http://425regiment.org/?page_id=1363, or copy and paste it into your preferred web browser.

Payment made also be made by check (payable to 425th Regimental Association) and sending the form at the bottom of this invitation to Mark Day, 27312 Red Leaf Lane, Southfield, MI 48076.

There is no designated attire for this event. Members are encouraged to wear the Army Service Uniform, Class A Army Green Uniform, business suit, or sport coat and tie.

425th Regimental Reunion Dinner, October 5, 2019

Registration Form

Name __________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

Number of guests _____________________

Email address ______________________________________________________________

Phone Numbers: Home (______) ________________ Cell (_______) _______________

Amount Paid $ ______________

Send this form (with check) to:

Mark Day, 27312 Red Leaf Lane, Southfield, MI 48076

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425th Regimental Association E-Newsletter – Summer 2019

425th Regimental Association

E-Newsletter

Summer 2019

Online Membership and Shopping on the Regimental website

Upcoming Regimental Events – 2019 – Mark your calendars and hold these dates. Look for more details in future mailings.

Joint 82nd Airborne Division Association/425th Regimental Association Picnic

Saturday. 27 July 2018 / Family Picnic starts at 1100 hrs

Bruce VFW Post / 28404 E. Jefferson Ave, St. Clair Shores, MI.

(Located between 11 & 12 mile Roads)

As in the past, the 82^nd Association will be supplying hot dogs, hamburgers, condiments, paper plates, utensils, and beer. (please put a generous donation in the can to cover these and other costs). The meal is pot luck and those attending are encouraged to bring a dish to pass. The grill opens around noon.

There will be an Association Membership meeting at 1400 in the VFW Club Room. This is your best opportunity to participate in the decision making of the Association.

Thunder Over Michigan Air Show

David Lincicome will be leading the charge for our parking project at the Willow Run Airport. It will be the weekend of 3-4 August. As in the past the Association will receive funds for our coffers in accordance to the number of volunteers we have working the parking concession. We have done well in the past several years.

The more volunteers we have, the more money we make. You can work both days or just one and get to see the air show for free. This year will feature the Blue Angels, so the crowds will be big. Workers will be provided with lunch and receive their choice of a free 425th Association hat, T-shirt or license plate. For more details or to volunteer contact David Lincicome at [email protected] or call him at (810) 560-4665.

Fifth Annual Regimental Rendezvous

August 24^th is the Regimental Rendezvous. We are changing the format this year. We are partnering with the Michigan Ranger Base, part of the Ranger Association. They call it their Shoot, Eat, and Drink event. We will meet at their Patrol Base at “Winnie Acres” in Marine City.

They have ranges for both rifle and pistol and a converted barn as a banquet hall loaded with Ranger memorabilia. We will publish more details at a later date.

425th Regimental Association Reunion Dinner

Out annual Reunion Dinner will be held at the Bakers of Milford on October 5th. This is a new venue that is more centrally located for the Association membership. More details will be published in a separate letter. This is intended to give our spouses an opportunity to join with us to share in the camaraderie of our history. We will have a guest speaker and install our new officers.

Monthly Meetings

Each month the Michigan Ranger Base hosts a luncheon in different locations around the state. These are announced in newsletters, email blasts, and on Facebook.

Therapy through Sailing

One of our members, Buck Cutlip, has started a non-profit organization offering sailing therapy programs to veterans. If you want to find more information, check out his website at https://www.compasspointoutreach.com/

425th Regimental Association Board of Directors & Contact Information

President: Stewart Boner – [email protected]
Vice President Mark Evans – [email protected]
Secretary: Tony Lopiccolo – [email protected]
Treasurer: Tom Neff – [email protected]
Historian: Don Bugg – [email protected]
RCSM: Dean Burchill – [email protected]
Adjutant: Bob Wangen – [email protected]
Quartermaster: David Lincicome – [email protected]

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A Memorial Day Poem

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

He was getting old and paunchy

And his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion,

Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in

And the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies;

They were heroes, every one.

And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors

His tales became a joke,

All his buddies listened quietly

For they knew where of he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer,

For ol’ Joe has passed away,

And the world’s a little poorer

For a Soldier died today.

He won’t be mourned by many,

Just his children and his wife.

For he lived an ordinary,

Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,

Going quietly on his way;

And the world won’t note his passing,

‘Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,

Their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing,

And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories

From the time that they were young

But the passing of a Soldier

Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution

To the welfare of our land,

Some jerk who breaks his promise

And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow

Who in times of war and strife,

Goes off to serve his country

And offers up his life?

The politician’s stipend

And the style in which he lives,

Are often disproportionate,

To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,

Who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal

And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians

With their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom

That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,

With your enemies at hand,

Would you really want some cop-out,

With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier

His home, his country, his kin,

Just a common Soldier,

Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,

And his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us

We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,

We find the Soldier’s part

Is to clean up all the troubles

That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor

While he’s here to hear the praise,

Then at least let’s give him homage

At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline

In the paper that might say:

“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”

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