On the 20th of June, Duffy Jensen, the SOA Secretary, suffered a severe stroke that required immediate surgery. Over the past two weeks, Duffy has made great strides in relearning to walk and has been able to regain some movement in his right hand and arm. Duffy’s communication is still struggling.. The doctors have let us know that with speech and language therapy it’s likely he will regain his ability to communicate how he’d like. In the meantime, a word we hear frequently is “God dammit”, so he’s still Duffy.
His family have been monitoring emails coming in and appreciate all the people who have been reaching out. Duffy will be at the rehab facility for another week and will not have access to his phone or emails, but if there are any messages that his family can pass along to him they would be delighted. Please feel free to message his phone or leave a voicemail and they will play them for him (907) 952-3717.
The Board of Directors and key personnel have taken on the tasks normally performed by Duffy, to include getting the SOAR XLVII PRP put together in preparation for printing. It will be a few weeks late going out this year but all important SOAR information will be shared via the SOA newsletter and website. A major thank you to Duffy's son Kevin who has worked with us to retrieve the needed files from Duffy's computer.
Our thoughts, well wishes and prayers are with Duffy and his family.
This years SOAR includes four special events: SOA Early Bird Fun Shoot, "The Beatles Love" show, Prayer Breakfast, and the CCS Breakfast. Special events require a separate registration and additional fees beyond the normal registration cost.
*BEATLES LOVE and the Early Bird Fun Shoot events are subject to cancellation. If an event is cancelled, all monies will be refunded.
ORLEANS HOTEL & CASINO Las Vegas NV Reserve your room online: Orleans Hotel & Casino or call 800 675-3267 Use the following Group Code when making your room reservation: ASP3C10 (Alpha-Sierra-Papa-3-Charlie-1-0) Room rates are guaranteed through 11 Sept 2023: Sun through Thurs - $49 + $15.99 resort fee + tax per day Fri and Sat - $99 + $15.99 resort fee + tax per day
TENURE PINS
The following SOA members are receiving tenure pins in 2023. For those attending SOAR, the pins will presented at either the General Membership meeting, or at the Banquet (45 year pins). Pins will be mailed to those members unable to attend SOAR.
Years Name 45 Berg, Charles 45 Brown, Robert K. 45 Bush Jr, Marion 45 Dioguardi, Richard W. 45 Foster, James E. 45 Greenup, Al 45 Gritz, Bo 45 Hetrick, James F. 45 Jacobson, Harold (Jake) 45 Mills, Travis 45 Mollica, Leonard C. 45 Nader, Walter E. 45 Silk, John P. 40 Almy, Charles 40 Brockelman, Ronald D. 40 Brubaker, Paul L. 40 Cherry Roger L. 40 Daniels III, Thomas M. 40 Freeman, Richard F. 40 Harris, Raymond D. 40 Hatchett, William M. 40 Higgins Richard L. 40 Schofield, Steven R. 40 Scott, Clayton S. 40 Wilson, Steven B. 40 Wilson, Thomas E. 35 Claflin, Harry L. 35 Hamner, Gene D. 35 Holmes, Kenneth W. 35 Johnson, Thomas E. 35 Locker, Robert E. 35 Ochtyun, John D. 35 Schrumpf, Ronald L. 35 Shorten, James H. 35 Snyder, Kenneth O. 35 Sugar, Howard B 35 Taylor, Donald R. 35 Thornton, Frank F. 35 Walker, James B. 35 Wicorek, Laurence T. 35 Worsham, Scott 30 Bilitzke, Joseph M. 30 Chericone, Denis J. 30 Coates, Robert 30 Elliott, Sheridan S. 30 Estrada, Pedro B. 30 Feeney, Don 30 Frescura, John L. 30 Heiser, G. William 30 McLeroy, James D. 30 Mohler, David G. 30 Newman, Max E. 30 Owens, John C. 30 Sottile Jr, Joe 30 Steenbock, Stanley A. 30 Sternberg Jr, George J. 30 Sullivan, Stephen R. 30 Sutcliffe, Grenville G. 30 Taitano, Norman C. 30 Tatten, Thomas R. 30 Unruh, C. J. 30 Young, Alvin H. 25 Acre, James E. 25 Adkins, James L. 25 Burbridge, Lawrence R. 25 Castillo, Robert J. 25 Cesani, Randolfo 25 Di Giacinto, R. Henry 25 Dove, Jr., Luther 25 Elmore, Darrell G. 25 Eskins, Henry 25 Farr, Warner D. 25 File, Russell H. 25 Fontana, Gerald 25 Foster Jr, L. David 25 Glerum, James N. 25 Haase, Donald W. 25 Hagedorn, Audrey L. 25 Hanna, Ronald T. 25 Harinck, Allen V. 25 Hendricks, Keith A. 25 Howard, Chester B. 25 Johnston, Emery P. 25 Kim, Michael P.
Years Name 25 Little Jr, Lawrence L. 25 Lucier, David F. 25 Lum, Tom 25 Madison, James C. 25 Marriott, Henderson R. 25 Martin, John R. 25 McLuckie, James B. 25 Miles, Grady F. 25 Miller, Ned L. 25 Nguyen, Kiet Van 25 Noe, Robert L. 25 O'Shea, Michael J. 25 Pelaez, Michael A. 25 Potter, Jon C. 25 Richardson, Richard L. 25 Rivero, Alfonso 25 Rodgers, Dennis E. 25 Sallee, James P. 25 Sasai, Calvin Y. 25 Savage, David G. 25 Savell, James W. 25 Sell, Richard H. 25 Sepi, Robert J. 25 Sheldon, James D. 25 Spain, John N. 25 St. Martin Jr, John M. 25 Stock, Gregory J. 25 Twichell, Robert 25 Van Arsdale, Lee A. 25 Wilson, Paul R. 25 Woronchuk, Ivan 25 Wright, Gary L. 25 Yancey, Leon H. Buck 25 Yevich, Steven J. 20 Bender, Randy M. 20 Berg, Robert S. 20 Berry, Michael D. 20 Biron, David F. 20 Broderick, Thomas F. 20 Bui, Cuong V. 20 Carpenter, Harold T. 20 Cawley, Patrick B. 20 Clifford, Robert F. 20 Corbin, Ronald D. 20 DeLuca, Thomas A. 20 Denniston, James G. 20 Edens, Kenneth B. 20 Erickson, Albert M. 20 Farmer, Daniel E. 20 Frankenfield, Thomas A. 20 Frevert, Benjamin R. 20 Grapa, Eugene P. 20 Hoagland, Raymond J. 20 Huynh, Khanh Phi 20 Jacobelli, James N. 20 Jones, Wendell D. 20 Kohn, Henry P. 20 Lang, Walter P. 20 Langevin, James M. 20 Le, Xuan Thanh (Steve) 20 Lundrigan, Thomas J. 20 Maley, Donald J. 20 Marcum, Curtis 20 Martin II, Gordon 20 Midash, Lawrence 20 Morris, Rex B. 20 O'Connor, Kevin M. 20 Palmer, Gilford D. 20 Payne, Robert Lee 20 Pesta, Charles J. 20 Peterson III, John M. 20 Phan, Dinh H. 20 Piper, Ronald B. 20 Popelka, Mark A. 20 Reeder Jr, William S. 20 Rozell, Gary R. 20 Sanchez, Joseph I. 20 Schoomaker, Peter J 20 Sinyard, Cletis D. 20 Smalley, Dennis R 20 Smith, Samuel J. 20 Smith, Alfred W. 20 Sneed, Jimmy W. 20 Von Beltz, Jeffrey B.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Edward A Yanez Lionel 'Fred' Solis Cipriano Ramon
TAPS
No new losses since the last newsletter. If you wish to receive a daily email with the latest Special Forces obituaries, subscribe to U.S. Special Forces Taps (click on any post and look for the email box on the right side).
SCHOLARSHIP FUND $$$ NEEDED: SOA needs more contributions to this worthwhile cause that gives a boost to SOA memberships’ progeny! The number of applicants has significantly increased, while the number of awards has significantly decreased (12% this year vs 42% last year). This program could fold due to lack of participation – counting on the altruism of our members to keep this program going.
FYI - Dick will be presenting his book during the Authors event at SOAR.
SOGCast 019: Doug Godshall Kicked Out, then Runs SOG Recon
JULY 2023 Calendar of Events
13 July: 5th SFG(A) Change of Command, Fort Campbell, KY. 9:00 AM. The ceremony will take place at Gabriel Field located behind Building 3222 Kentucky Avenue, Fort Campbell, Kentucky 42223.
20 July: SOA BOD Meeting
22 July, 1100: Jumping of the ashes. Billy Waugh requested that his ashes be HALO jumped and scattered by the HALO team. Raeford Drop Zone, Raeford, North Carolina. At approximately 1100 jumpers depart aircraft / release ashes). Be at the drop zone by 1030 that Saturday.
