Brunswick Town March 8, 2023 Meeting " Honoring Veterans"

 L to R: Dennis St. Andrew,  Woody Johnson,  Dan Hickman, Fred Edwards, Joe Kinzer,  Doug Sands, Robert Tripp, Mac Palmer, and John Lambert  

Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR celebrated veterans everywhere by inviting local veterans to our March meeting and luncheon at Winding River Plantation’s restaurant.

Invited veterans were club members and relatives of club members. They represent several branches of the military and many years of service. The event was planned and executed by the Vice Regent and a committee that included seven Brunswick Town members.

The celebration opened with a prayer from chapter chaplain Judy Holden, followed by a presentation of the colors by the Richard H. Stewart Jr. American Legion Post 543 from St. James.

Each celebrated veteran was called up and presented with a gift from the chapter while their service anthem played from the regent's cell phone.

Honored and attending were US Army Brigadier General Dan Hickman who served 35 years including in Viet Nam and Iraq, Marine Captain Woody Johnson who served three years in Viet Nam, John Lambert who served the US Army for two years in Washington DC, LCDR Robert Palmer who served twenty years in the Navy in Vietnam, Hawaii and DC, Doug Sands who served three years in the US Air Force in the Philippines and Viet Nam, Dennis St. Andrews who served three years with the US Army in Viet Nam, Col. Robert E. Tripp who served 28 years with the US Army in Viet Nam and Germany, General Joe Kinzer who served 39 years in the US Army in Viet Nam and elsewhere, and Fred Gordon Edwards, Jr who served four years active duty with the US Navy and four years in the US Navy Reserves. 1st Lt. Joseph Pierce who served 15 years with the 82nd Airborne in Korea and the US was unable to attend as was Dr. Joseph Wayne Koletar who served two years as First Lieutenant in the Special Security Group of the US Army.

Also honored but unable to attend were three members of the Brunswick Town NSDAR chapter:  Lt. Col. Susan Cunningham for 20 years in the US Air Force around the world, Linda Franklin for 20 years aboard Air Force One, Fran Carlson for four years in the Women’s Air Corp in Washington DC, and Joseph Koletar, US army Special Security Group 2 years as First Lt.

Information provided our public relations chair.

              Honor Guard from the American Legion in Southport, NC.

L to R: Bill Morgan, Aaron Largent,  Pom Pomeroy, Ray Clemen, Rich Ewing, Jim Rosadino, and Rick Sessa

 American Legion Post 543's Honor Guard was created in 2013 from a need for our members to provide Military Honors at funerals, honor our Flag, and represent Post 543.

We honor fallen veterans with funeral honors. Our ceremony includes the bagpipes and buglers playing Taps, a ceremonial flag folding, and the presentation of the flag to the family of the fallen veteran. The Honor Guard considers this to be a sacred honor and we always endeavor to perform these ceremonies to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

The Honor Guard also presents the colors at all monthly and special meetings. It is and important part of any Post participation in parades and other ceremonial events.

The Honor Guard represents Post 543 in local parades such as the NC 4th of July Festival in Southport, the Veterans Day parade in Wilmington, and the Christmas By The Sea parade on Iak Island.

The Post 543 plans and conducts the annual Memorial Day ceremony, the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, and the Veterans Day ceremony. 

If anyone is interested in having the Honor Guard participate in a patriotic event, contact Bill Morgan, Honor Guard Commander, bill.am68@gmail.com;  571-423-8530

 Information provided by Bill Morgan.

Vice Regent from the Brunswick Town chapter gave background on the Veterans Project.

Photo was taken prior to the start of the meeting at Carolina National Golf Club at Winding River, NC. Members were busily singing in for the meeting.

Brigadier General Dan Hickman, US Army was Honored at the March 8, 2023 DAR Meeting

                                          

 Here's the Vietnam photo.  Was made in late 1968. Nui Ba Din Mountain (the Black Virgin Mountain) is in the background - about ten kilometers from the Cambodian Border. The two pictures were made 36 years apart.

This is a picture of General Hickman in Iraq war...taken late 2004.    

General Hickman began his military career (May 1967) as a

private soldier. He worked his way up through the ranks and served in

Vietnam as a helicopter pilot with Bravo Troop, 3rd of the 17th Air

Cavalry. During his tour in Vietnam, he served as an Aircraft

Commander and Aviation Section Leader, flying utility, attack, and

aero-scout helicopters. He flew UH-1 Hueys, OH-6 Scouts, and AH-1G

Cobra gunships in a wide variety of combat missions while in Vietnam.

 

After returning from Vietnam, he became a flight instructor and check-

pilot in the Army’s Helicopter Flight School.

After leaving active duty, General Hickman continued service as

a citizen soldier. He entered the Army Guard and served in various

company and field-grade positions as an infantry officer. He

commanded an Infantry Company and an Infantry Battalion. After

rising to the rank of Brigadier General, he commanded the 30th

Brigade Combat Team with over 4900 soldiers.

 

His reinforced brigade was mobilized in 2003 for a ground

combat role in the Iraq war. During that war, he commanded the 30 th

and conducted combat operations (2004-5) in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle.

While in Iraq, he and his unit were attached to the US Army’s First

Infantry Division.

 

General Hickman’s military schools include Rotary Wing Flight

School, Infantry Officer’s Basic and Advanced Courses, the Joint Fire

Power Course, Command and General Staff College, and he is a

graduate of the Army War College.

 

General Hickman’s awards include the Legion of Merit, the

Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service

Medals, and twenty-six Air Medals plus one Air Medal with a V for

Valor.

 

General Hickman grew up at Hickman’s Crossroads near

Calabash, NC. He now resides with his wife, Susan, in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Brigadier General Joseph W. Kinzer, US Army was Honored at the March 8, 2023 DAR Meeting

Lieutenant General Joseph W. Kinzer, born 7 July 1939, is a native of Westminster, Maryland. He enlisted in the US Army in 1959 and served at Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Meyer,Virginia; and Europe before being commissioned through the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1964. He holds a Bachelors Degree in History from the University of Tampa, Florida, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

General Kinzer is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Candidate School, the Armor Advanced Course, Command and Staff College, and the Army War College. His commissioned service initially included two tours of duty with the 82nd Airborne Division where he served with the 1-325th and 2-204th Airborne Infantry Battalions as Recon Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Company Commander, and Battalion S3. His service also included seven months in the Dominican Republic in 1965 with the 82nd Division. During two tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam, General Kinzer served as an advisor to the 7th Airborne Battalion, Army of the Republic of Vietnam as Operations Officer and Assistant Secretary to the General Staf of the 24th US Corps in DaNang, Vietnam.

From June 19794 to June 1977 he served as a Tactical Officer at the United States Military Academy at West Point. From June 1977 until May 1983 he served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. While at Fort Campbell his assignments included Executive Officer, 1-506th Infantry, Plans Officer for the 101st Division G3/DPt, Deputy G3, and Commander 2-5 03d Infantry Battalion from March 1980 to February 1983. Returning to Fort Bragg in November 1985 he served as the G3 82d Airborne Division as Director of Operations XVIII Corps. Following these assignments, General Kinzer returned to Fort Campbell in November 1986 to command the 3d Brigade 101st Airborne Division.

Reassigned to Fort Bragg in November 1988 and promoted to Brigadier General, he served as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations 82d Airborne Division until January 1990. From February 1990 to September 1992, he served as the Deputy Commanding General of the United States Army South and Task Force South in Panama. Reassigned to the Pentagon in September 1992, General Kinzer served as the Deputy Director and Director of Operations, Mobilization, and Readiness for the Department of the Army at Headquarters Department of the Army until August 1994 when he was reassigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas as the Deputy Commanding General 5th United States Army. From March 1995 to March 1996 he served as the Commanding General of the United States Forces and United Nations Forces in Haiti. Returning to Fort Sam Houston in March 1996. He relinquished command of the 5th Army of August 1998 and retired from active duty after serving 39 plus years of service on 31 August 1998.

The Anniversary of Moores Creek was held on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

 Members of the Brunswick Town DAR Chapter attended The   Anniversary of Moores Creek was held on Saturday, February 25,   2023.

DAR Stamp Defiance Chapter member was helping at the Moores Creek Battlefield as a nurse. Look at the variety of instruments she had available to her.