THE CANOPY

[Pages:10]THE CANOPY

North central florida all airborne chapter February 2021

Chapter Officers

President

Tony Alger

719 310 8951

Vice President Treasurer Secretary Sergeant at Arms Chaplain Service Officer Judge Advocate

Jerry Brust Heath Davenport Jay Tatman Frank Dochniak Lee Damon Joyce Damon Dick Mondro

405 823 4483 571 641 9057 352 210 7600 352 259 2441 352 812 4492 352 208 4963 352 430 9470

Recruiting officers

canopy Editor

executive committee

Tony Alger - The Villages

Fran Dolan

Fran Dolan

Tig Blackman--Ocala

Frank Dochniak

Chapter website:

Meeting this month at the VFW, 1 2666 US 27/441 , Belleview, FL Just north of the Marian Flea MarketMeeting starts promptly at 1300 hours - Post opens @ 1200 hours. Face Masks are required

Chapter calendar

13 February - Chapter Meeting 12 February - Lincoln's Birthday

14 February - Valentine's Day 15 February - President's Day 22 February - Washington's Birthday

President's message

As the NCFAA Chapter along with the rest of the nation digs its way out of the COVID-19 Experience, people are getting more confident in moving about and socializing with distance and masks. The vaccine is starting to make its way to the general population. Hopefully by next meeting many of us will have gotten the vaccine. Our Jan meeting still indicates a lower turn out from our previous meetings.

A few members have been recovering from surgeries or illness. Get well soon and if you need help please reach out to me or your fellow troopers. Our Chapter gave a condolence card to Past President Rich Troop and wife Dawn. Dawn's father passed away mid Dec 2020.

Important Events are coming up for our us: March is the St Patrick's Day parade, information to follow. April is our Airborne Picnic and May is our Airborne Luncheon. As we come closer to these events, we'll let the membership know specifics. The All-American Week at Ft Bragg, NC is scheduled for May 24-27. And finally, the Airborne Convention will be held in Houston, Texas in August.

Dani Carlson Ass't Manager of Mission BBQ will be at the February meeting to talk to us about the mission of Mission BBQ and treat us to a nice BBQ snack. Mission BBQ is a Pro Veteran and 1st Responder decorated establishment in Lady Lake. Hopefully you'll be there so I'll need a headcount if you think you're going to be there for our meeting 13 February. As always Airborne All the Way!

Tony

At the last meeting

Attendance at the meetings have not been overwhelming, probably due to the fear of the China Virus. FYI, everyone is wearing masks and there's plenty of room for social distancing. With that said, next month's meeting will have a guest speaker. She is Dani Carlson, who is the Assistant Manager of a new restaurant in Lady Lake, just outside "The Villages".

Vice President Jerry Brust called the meeting to order at 1300 hrs. and gave the Airborne Prayer. Chapter members pledged allegiance to the Flag of our Country.

Officers present were President Tony Alger, Vice President Jerry Brust and Secretary Jay Tatman. Treasurer Heath Davenport was on sick leave. Lee and Joyce Damon, Chaplain and Support Officer were on sick call too.

Secretary Jay Tatman read the minutes from the previous meeting on 12 Dec. 2020 and chapter members approved the minutes.

Treasurer Heath Davenport was in the hospital on sick call postponing the treasurer's report until the next monthly meeting.

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VP Tony Alger welcomed and introduced visiting retired jumpmaster Carl Clark and asked him to stand and give a brief history of his military background. Carl received an application for membership to our chapter.

President Tony Alger welcomed back returning member Brian O'Connell after being hospitalized with a serious case of Covid. Brian spent 14 days in the hospital and he thought he made his last jump. He lost a lot of weight but not his sense of humor. Welcome back Brian.

Addition members on sick call: Vic Ehre ? hip surgery, Tig Blackman ? knee surgery, then hip surgery, Lee Damon ? infection, Steve Perkins and Don Van Alstyne with serious illnesses. Please, in your prayers, the family of our recently departed member, Brother Bob Dunning.

Canopy Booster donations were received from Tig Blackman - $30, Rich Becker - $25 and Jay & Darla Tatman - $25, Jerry Brust - $100 adding them to our 2021 Canopy Boosters which already include members Nick & Marge Harty, Regis Rossa, Barry Speare, and Galen Mitchell. Booster donations offset the cost of producing our monthly Canopy Newsletter. A $25 dollar donation entitles boosters to free chapter business cards. See Secretary Jay Tatman. Thank you to all of our Canopy boosters.

President Tony Alger presented VFW Post 8083 Commander Jon Jacobs with a $200 dollar donation for allowing our chapter meets at their post.

Having a quorum of paid members, Tony Alger presented the 2021 NCFAA Chapter Annual Budget for discussion. The budget was voted on and approved by the members. Additionally, there was discussion and agreement verbiage be added to the budget making it clear chapter administrative costs take president over charitable donations.

There was discussion on how to raise additional funds for the chapter. Rich Becker suggested having a fundraising chapter birthday party based on our charter date of May 29, 1993. Frank Rasbury suggested implementing annual chapter dues. Tony Alger will include this discussion in the next executive staff meeting and at the February chapter monthly meeting.

Secretary Jay Tatman reminded members of the chapter's website, is a valuable source of information for our members and is accessible by smartphones, tablets and computers. Home Page: "who we are", our mission statement, meeting dates, times and locations and a list of our officers with contact info, Photo Gallery page: photos of chapter events, Contact us page: messages delivered to our chapter email address. Join our Chapter page: Information on how to join our chapter and downloadable application. Canopy page; current and back issues of our Canopy newsletter.

Frank Dochniak conducted the 50/50 drawing. Brian O'Connell won $12 with $12 dollars going to the chapter. Frank also raffled off a Hickory Farms lunch box won by Eve Rios.

VP Jerry Brust gave the airborne prayer and President Tony Alger adjourned the meeting.

Assistant Service Officer Darla Tatman provided her homemade chili to the members and guests who stayed after the meeting to visit and chow down. John & Eve Rio donated a large box of tangerines to the members from their tree. Thank you Darla, John and Eve.

Editor's Note. The Chili was delish and finger licking good. Thanks Darla

The following pages will give you a synopsis of our new officers.

President - Tony Alger

Life started on a U.S. Air Force Base as a military brat in Japan. Our family (5 boys) traveled and grew up all over the U.S.: Detroit Michigan, Albuquerque New Mexico, Victorville Calif, Tampa FL and Harlingen Texas were places we called home. I enlisted in the Army 1969 and after Basic Training and AIT, I was assigned in Airborne Infantry units and went to Jumpmaster School. I served for 6 years in Panama and Ft. Bragg, NC. After Bragg, I was a Drill Sergeant for 2 years at Ft. Dix, NJ and Recon Platoon Sgt for 1 year in Hawaii.

Went to OCS Ft. Benning, GA and eventually Flight School at Ft. Rucker, AL. I flew UH-1s and OH58s. My Officer assignments were Plt Leader at Ft Bliss TX and Camp Casey, Korea, Executive Officer, Ass't S-3 Operation Officer, and Company Commander of HSC, 4th Attack Helicopter Battalion at Ft Carson, Colorado. Overseas assignments were in Panama, Honduras, Australia, Germany and Korea. Retired with 21 years service in 1990 from my last assignment at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO. Too young to stay retired so I decided I wanted to teach. I taught mostly Middle School where I retired again in Woodland Park, Colorado in 2011. Moved to the Villages in 2012. Love my 5G Plan here in the Villages. Golfing, Guitar, Guns, Gambling, Gym. Actually Softball takes up most of my time.

I have a deep history with the 82nd Airborne Division since my Dad was a Glider man in 325th Glider Infantry Regiment 82nd Abn Div. in Normandy. He was a Charter Member of the 82nd Association before there were chapters. Of course I followed in his footsteps to the 505th Parachute Infantry 82nd Abn Div. Airborne!

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vice president - Jerry Brust

Jerry Brust was born in Oklahoma City and raised in a small town about 20 miles east of Oklahoma City. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Oklahoma and enrolled in ROTC. In the summer of 1962, he attended ROTC basic training at Ft. Sill, OK. May of 1963, Jerry graduated from the University of Oklahoma and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps and attended officer's basic at the Adjutant General School at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN. He then completed jump school at Ft. Benning, GA.

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Brust's initial orders were to the 7th Infantry Division in South Korea. Upon arriving in Korea in October, 1963, however, he was "diverted" to participate in a largescale war game. After the war game was concluded, his orders were changed and he was assigned as a postal officer at the First Base Post Office in Inchon. After six months in Inchon, he was reassigned as the postal officer at APO 301 in Seoul and was part of the Eighth Army Support Command (EASCOM). His wife, Robbey, came to Korea on a tourist visa and the couple lived "on the economy" for the last 6 months of his tour. When his thirteen month tour in Korea was completed, Brust was assigned as an Assistant Adjutant General in the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, KY. With promotions to 1st Lt. and Cpt., he held a variety of assignments in the Adjutant General Section until he completed his commitment in July, 1967.

After leaving the Army, Jerry joined Caterpillar, Inc. He held a variety of assignments in manufacturing, human resources and labor relations. When he retired in 1998 after more than 31 years, he had been the Corporate Director of Human Resources and the Corporate Director of Labor Relations.

Upon retirement, Brust returned to the University of Oklahoma and entered law school. He graduated with a Juris Doctor in December, 2000 and passed his Bar Exam in February, 2001. He then practiced law with Crowe & Dunlevy, a large law firm in Oklahoma City, for the next 11 years and retired again in 2012.

Jerry Brust and his wife Robbey moved to The Villages in 2014. They recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.

Treasurer - heath (Nancy) davenport

I was born in Evanston Illinois (suburb of Chicago) because my parents met there at Northwestern University. Dad was a WWII pilot and attending school on GI Bill. We moved around till we settled in Dallas TX when I started 3rd grade.

I attended Texas Tech and took Air Force then Army ROTC as electives but I really liked Army ROTC so I stayed in the program becoming the first female ROTC commander. I went to Jump School as a cadet, when they opened it to females, but was injured and had to come back as a Captain to earn my wings. After graduating Texas Tech, I was assigned to Field Station Augsburg, West Germany, where I was S3 Assistant Operation officer.

In 1982, my next duty station was the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, CA. There, I was Senior Intelligence Planner and Commander for Soviet style Electronic Warfare Company.

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1986, my next duty station was the 25th Infantry Division (Light) @ Schofield Barricks, Hawaii where I was Division Plans Officer and Company Commander. I taught electronic Warfare Staff Officer Courses. While stationed @ Schofield Barracks, we deployed, on several occasions, to Korea for exercises (Team Spirit) with our South Korean counterparts. Back to Hawaii and Fort Shafter and Desert Storm--1990 where I was Action Officer and assistant Operations Officer (S3). Again, more overseas deployments in Thailand and Iraq. In Iraq, I was Action Officer and assistant Operations Officer for 207th Military Intelligence Brigade during Desert Storm.

Back Stateside, I was stationed @ Fort Campbell with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) where I was Chief of Analysis and Control, Assistant S3--MI Battalion and Deputy G2 from 1992 to 1995. While @ Fort Campbell, I was deployed several times to Korea, Fort Lewis and also two weeks aboard the USS Mount Whitney.

After my tour in Fort Campbell, I was assigned to the Pentagon in 1995. If I told you what I did there, I'd have to kill ya...........LOL 1997 brought me back to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii for two years before heading to Seoul, South Korea for a couple of years from 1999 - 2001. Most of my career was spent in Military Intelligence which brings me to my final duty station back at the Pentagon where I was Director of Army Intelligence and Action Officer. I moved to G2 Plans and Operations to coordinate the intelligence equipment from around the world to prepare for the invasion of Iraq. I retired in 2003 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After retiring in 2003 I worked as a contractor for ten years for SAIC, a large DOD focused company. I worked in Counterintelligence then headed a team of analysts supporting units deployed in Iraq. My final job was an intelligence planner in the Pentagon before moving to The Villages in 2012.

Life in The Villages has been full with Scuba, softball, basketball and volleyball. I'm also on the American Legion Honor Guard and active with Tri County Women Vets. In my spare time I like to travel. Never a dull moment!

secretary - Jay Tatman

Already a life member of the 82nd ABN DIV Assoc., my wife and I were recruited to the North Central Florida All Airborne Chapter by a chance meeting with Rich Becker at a dry cleaner in The Villages. We attended our first meeting November 2016. In 2018 I became chapter Secretary under President Nick Harty, and was preceded by Secretary Ron Harrelson. 2019 and 2020 I continued as Secretary under President Rich Troop. 2021 I am again Secretary under President Tony Alger. My wife Darla has been Assistant Service Officer helping Joyce Damon coordinate and prepare meals for the Troopers to enjoy after the meetings.

Born 1958 in Burbank, CA. I grew up "free range" in Reseda CA located in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County. I started working at 14, I moved out of my parent's house and got an apartment while a senior in high school. 1976 I graduated Birmingham High School, Van Nuys, CA. Later that same year I enlisted in the US Army as a 31E2P, Field Radio Repairman, Paratrooper. I went active duty on March 14, 1977 as a private E-1.

2 months Basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. 10 weeks COBET (Common Basic Electronics Training) at Fort Jackson, SC 15 weeks Field Radio Repairman Course at Ft Gordon, GA 2 weeks Leadership Training Course at Ft. Gordon, GA 4 weeks Jump School at Ft Benning, GA 6 weeks EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) at Ft. Bragg, NC On March 2nd, 1978, after nearly a full year on active duty I was transferred to my permanent duty station, C-Company, 782nd Maintenance Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. Where I spent the remainder of my 3 years. Shortly after arriving at Fort Bragg, I was promoted to Specialist E-4 and in August 1979 promoted to Specialist E-5. I served as a squad leader and unit safety NCO. After my discharge in March 1980, I returned to the San Fernando Valley to work for XEROX Corp as a field copier technician. Eventually I moved into a sales career with ITT World Communications and have held various sales positions ever since. I have been a licensed real estate broker for over 30 years. My wife Darla and I met in California and have been together since September 1998. In 2002 we relocated from California to Indiana where we started a home inspection company which we owned for 10 years. We relocated to The Villages, FL in August 2016 and then to Mt. Dora, FL in Jan 2020. Darla and I have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren between us. I have also been active in the Masonic Fraternity since 2010 and have served as Senior Deacon, Jr Warden, Sr Warden, and Worshipful Master in that organization.

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These pics should bring back some fond memories of years gone by

The canopy boosters * 2021

RICH BECKER

Jerry brust galen Mitchell Barry speare

Tig Blackman

Nick & Marge Harty Regis Rossa

Jay & darla tatman

Ass'n Board of Directors reschedule

Sky Soldier Reunion

Pandemic forces postponement

Phoenix, : A majority of Assn board members at the Skysoldier midwinter conference voted yesterday to postpone the 2021 Skysoldier reunion until 2022.

The board reached their 21 to 6 decision after a presentation by the Arizona Skysoldiers, Chapter 25, outlining the possibility of having to reschedule due to presence of the Corona Virus in Arizona. Current CDC guidelines prohibits more than 50 persons in a room. The board reached this conclusion after debating the value of postponing the reunion by just 60 days rather than one year.

Members of the board were reluctant to postponing the reunion, especially after cancelling the 2020 reunion. The winning argument was, "we have all the infrastructure in place," said the reunion secretary, "but no one could have forecasted the pandemic would last this long." Board members inquired about the costs incurred and any financial liability of the association in the reunion was rescheduled. The chapter secretary assured the board the Association would bear no financial loss should they decide to change the dates.

"We have been extremely careful in our accounting and expenses," stated the secretary, " we are fully prepared to provide a complete and immediate refund to anyone wishing to cancel their registration. Skysoldiers wishing to receive refunds are urged to contact the chapter secretary at Breyn6543@. Skysoldiers wishing to cancel their hotel reservations are urged to contact the 173d Concierge at kimberly@. Using her email will enable Ms. Hubbard to maintain records and assist Skysoldiers who wish to change their hotel reservations. According to Ms. Hubbard, airlines are "normally willing to offer credit toward future flights."

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