Meeting comments and Photos Jan 24

SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION

      Chapter 76 - South Florida 

          “The Green Berets”

 

January 28, 2024

Hello Members and Friends of the Association,

Yesterday, January 27^th, your chapter met at VFW Post 31, just south of Sunset Drive (SW 72^nd St) off US 1 in Miami.  This facility sits on a large property with plenty of parking, it is roomy, well-maintained and we were allowed a large meeting room with plenty of seating.  The staff was very friendly and accommodating and at least two of our chapter members are also members here – Dave Kinney and Roger Kidder, who heads the post membership recruiting.  There was a good turnout and everyone enjoyed themselves.

 

 

For those of you who knew Curt Mancini, Ye Olde Falcon Pub at 2867 S. University Blvd, Davie, FL annually hosts a get together in his memory on the anniversary of his death and tomorrow night at 7pm you are invited to attend the 20^th anniversary.  For those of you unfamiliar or interested in reading a bit more, click the two links below.  Curt was well regarded and loved, as evidenced by the responses at the link below. 

 

 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17970143/curtis-mancini

 

https://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oef/profiles/mancinicurtis.html

 

Notes from Al Hernandez, one of our chapter Secretaries and storekeeper:

 

Here are the results of todays meeting.

 

The 50/50 raffle collected $110.00. The winner, Cliff Lockwood won $55.00 which he donated back to the chapter.

 

We sold $326.00 worth of “Merch” which includes an $86.00 check from Roger Kidder, and $50.00 from Vito Ecklund.

 

So in total I have in my grubby little hands $436.00 which includes Roger’s $86.00 check.

 

Al

Photos from the meeting:



SOA January 2024 Newsletter ROGER DONLON The Special Forces community and SOA are saddened by the loss of legend Colonel Roger Donlon.  A Celebration of Life will be held on April 10, 2024, beginning at 1300 hours at the Frontier Conference Center, 350 Biddle Avenue, Fort Leavenworth, KS.  Followed by the burial service at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. The SOA will be represented by President Doug Godshall and BG(ret) Ken Bowra, who will give the eulogy.  Gary Sinese will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. We encourage any members who can attend to join in honoring Colonel Donlon on April 10th. COL Donlon was the guest speaker at SOAR in 2017.  He joined the SOA in 1994. You can read his full obituary here (click).  FRANKLIN MILLER MOH NEWS Green Beret’s Medal of Honor now on display at Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis Franklin Douglas Miller: 20 Special Forces veterans attend ceremony unveiling display. READ THE NEWS ARTICLE HERE (CLICK) 2024 DMOR INDUCTIONS Two SOA members will be posthumously inducted as Distinguished Members of the Special Forces Regiment on April 25, 2024, at Fort Liberty, (formally known as Fort Bragg). Time and location will be published when available.  SOA member# 1486, MG Victor J. Hugo, Jr. SOA member# 2380, Harvey G. Brande TAPS DONLON, Roger, SOA Mem# 1108, passed away on January 25, 2024 BROWN, Phillip M., SOA Mem# 1253, passed away on January 23, 2024 SEYMOUR, John A., SOA Mem# 541, passed away on January 1, 2024. DRISCOLL, Arthur F., SOA Mem# 2480, passed away on January 23, 2024. WHITTLE, Charles E., SOA Mem# 1434, passed away on January 1, 2024. SHERMAN, William E. Jr., SOA MEM# 3341, passed away on January 13, 2024. NGUYEN, Trieu Hai, SOA Mem# 2095, passed away on November 25, 2023. KEEL, Colin F., SOA Mem# 2523, passed away on December 26, 2023. (Names in red link to an obit) DONATIONS The SOA wishes to thank those who recently made donations. We couldn't exist without the generous hearts of our members & supporters.   Andrew Obertanec, $100.00 to the General Fund. William Yao, MK II Watches, $1,000.00 to the General Fund.  Perry Kao, $25.00 to the General Fund. Ricklin Brown, SOA Mem# 3607, $100.00 to the General Fund in memory of Marcus E. Reed and Donnie Vickers CCS -1970 Jerry L. Lechien, SOA Mem# 3147, $100.00 to the General Fund BOOKS & MEDIA The resurgence of interest in MACV-SOG has led to several PODCAST/VIDEO channels to watch John Stryker Meyer and the Secret War in Vietnam - Danger Close with Jack Carr Pucker Factor - Stories of MACVSOG Presents, interviews with Warriors  The Reconnaissance Cast  CALENDAR APRIL: 5 April: Gold Star Wives Day 9 April: National Former POW Recognition Day 10 April, Fort Leavenworth, KS: Roger Donone Celebration of Life will be held on April 10, 2024, beginning at 1300 hours at the Frontier Conference Center, 350 Biddle Avenue, Fort Leavenworth, KS.   Burial service to follow at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. 12-14 Apr: Best Ranger Competition. Learn More. 11-14 April: Air Commando Association Reunion Banquet  Fort Walton Beach, FL. Learn More 15 April: Deadline for submission to the SOA Scholarship program  20 April: B/3/20th SFG(A) Annual Reunion 25 or 26 April: DMOR inductee ceremony, Fort Liberty, (formally known as Fort Bragg) THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Questions? Comments? Contact us. Newsletter Editor:  Bonnie Cooper SOA President: Doug Godshall Visit the Special Operations Association Website Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Photo SF chapter meeting in Green Cove Springs (near Jacksonville) recently.

Jerry Bartlett passed this photo along from a SF chapter meeting in Green Cove Springs (near Jacksonville) recently. 

Defense Department Expands ID Card Renewals by Mail to US-Based Retirees, Dependents 17jan24

Defense Department Expands ID Card Renewals by Mail to US-Based Retirees, Dependents

The Next Generation USID military dependent card incorporates an updated design and security features to deter counterfeiting and fraud, and is printed on a plastic cardstock. (Department of Defense)

Military.com | By Amanda Miller

Published January 16, 2024 at 5:42pm ET

Military retirees and their dependents based in the U.S. may now renew their military ID cards online and receive them by mail, relieving them of a trip to the on-base ID card office.

The Defense Department announced Tuesday that it's expanding a pilot program that began in 2023 and initially allowed certain dependents' Uniformed Services Identification cards, or USID, to be renewed by mail.

Portions of the renewal process have previously been available online. However, the pilot program allows online ordering from start to finish. While in the past the renewed card had to be retrieved in person at a local ID card facility, it will instead be delivered by mail under the pilot program.

Read Next: Marine Corps Plans Resident Advisers in Barracks and Other Fixes as Gross Facility Photos Surface Online

After first offering the renewals by mail to dependents whose sponsors held a Common Access Card -- generally active-duty dependents -- the DoD will now allow the renewals for additional USID holders, who include U.S.-based retirees, their dependents and reservists.

Out of the 4.5 million IDs of all types that the department issues every year, about 1 million are the USIDs of people based in the U.S., according to the news release announcing the pilot program expansion.

The opportunity is only for people who already have a USID and need to renew it. Those applying for the first time will still need to go to an on-base office of the Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System, or RAPIDS.

Further expanding the new renewal process to USID holders outside the U.S. in the future is "in the works," according to the news release.

Sponsors and cardholders may request renewals at the ID Card Office Online website. At the site, the sponsor must verify the dependent's identifying information and digitally sign a new Form DD 1172-2 to receive the renewed ID by mail.

Eligibility requirements:

• The USID card being renewed is active (not expired).
• The card recipient has a photo in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) taken in the last 12 years.
• The card recipient has an email address saved in DEERS for communication.
• The card recipient has a physical address (not a post office box) saved in DEERS in the continental U.S., Alaska or Hawaii.

The Defense Manpower Data Center will create and mail the new card, emailing both the sponsor and cardholder when it has done so. An email will also be sent if the online renewal wasn't successful.

Once the card arrives, the sponsor must log back in to the ID Card Office Online website to acknowledge receiving it. Since military ID cards are considered government property, users are asked to return their old, replaced ID cards either by dropping them off at a local ID card office or by mailing them to:

DMDC- DSC Attn: USID Card Returns 2102 E. 21st Street N. Wichita, KS 67214.

B/3/20th Reunion

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: W.H. Eades <billeades@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, Jan 7, 2024 at 9:32 AM
Subject: B/3/20 REUNION Conundrum
To: Daniel Poirier <poirier560@gmail.com>
Cc: Kenneth Wilson <mfd611@cfl.rr.com>

***ATTENTION ~ ATTENTION ~ ATTENTION***

Special Forces B/3/20th Reunion

 Note From, MSG (R) Chris R. Bell, Special Projects Officer

To The Brotherhood of B/3/20:  As we enter this new year, I wanted to acknowledge that I probably have not done as a good a job of communicating the 

2024 Reunion as I should have.  My bad!

Our Reunion is currently scheduled just (6) weeks away & I have only received (5) checks for the February 17^th Reunion date!  NOTE: None have been cashed.

I have spoken with Darryl & we wonder if maybe a later date would accommodate more people? In hopes of finding another date that is more acceptable, Darryl reached out to the Amerion Legion & they have offered April 6^th or the 20^th as possible alternatives.

So, I need to hear from you what you’d prefer:

1.       Yes       February 17^th

2.       Yes       April 6th

3.       Yes       April 20^th 

In order to get a sense of what date is better, please REPLY ASAP so I can re-schedule, cancel, or whatever the group wants to do.

De Oppresso Liber

MSG (R) Chris R. Bell, Special Projects Officer

1111 Jungle Avenue North

St. Petersburg, FL  33710-4327

Cell: 727.244.1016

< chris18s66@yahoo.com >

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support 

any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty." - John F. Kennedy

 

 

Chapter Meeting 1130 Saturday January 27th, American Legion, 7710 SW 59th Avenue, South Miami******Fwd: "CASH ONLY" Reminder Chapter 76 Meeting Jan 27th //

 "CASH ONLY" Reminder Chapter 76 Meeting Jan 27th //

SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION

      Chapter 76 - South Florida 

          “The Green Berets”

 

January 3, 2024

Hello Members and Friends of the Association,

Please join us at 1130 on January 27^th for our chapter meeting at American Legion Post 31, 7710 SW 59^th Avenue, South Miami just south of Sunset Drive across from Baptist Health South Miami Hospital. 

 

Hot dogs and hamburgers with fries will be served and beer is available. 

 

 

Joe Pruett on behalf of

Ed Pijuan

President