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Back Issues of Newsletter

The following excerpts are from the Fall/Winter 2001 DUSTOFFer Newsletter. The complete newsletter, and all the stories, is mailed to each DUSTOFF Association member. If you are not a member, become a member now and read the complete issue.

President's Message

"Even when faced with the murderous madness of criminals, and in the presence of the silent agony of their victims, it is incumbent upon us to choose between escape and solidarity, shame and honor. The terrorists have chosen shame. We have chosen honor."—Elie Wiesel.

As I wrote this, there were tears in my eyes; everything has changed since 9/11/01. There is not much to say that hasn’t already been said much more eloquently than I could.  MORE

Crewmember of the Year

THIS YEAR’S CREWMEMBER of the year is SGT Christine Roberts of the 50th Medical Company, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. SGT Roberts is the mother of three children and an outstanding soldier and flight medic. She arrived at Fort Campbell in December 2000 from Korea, where she served as a Clinic NCOIC as a Corporal. Her first stop after her arrival at Fort Campbell was the 50th Medical Company, where she quickly showed herself to be a motivated, knowledgeable soldier who wanted to be a flight medic in the unit.  MORE

DUSTOFF in Poland
by Bill Roche

Oleszno, Poland—1 October, 2001—A group of soldiers and civilians participating in V Corps’ combined US-Polish Exercise Victory Strike II proved the value of training when they helped save the life of a Polish citizen injured in a car accident on 30 September. Major John Kopp of the US Army Contracting Command, Europe, was driving with his Polish translator on Highway 175 northwest of the town of Kalisz Pomorski that afternoon when he came upon a gruesome scene. A small orange car was wrapped around a tree by the side of the road. Two young males had been thrown from the car. One was unconscious and bleeding from a head or neck wound; the other was conscious but having difficulty breathing. A third victim was pinned inside the vehicle.  MORE

Rescue of the Year

THE RESCUE OF the Year Award this year will be shared jointly by the 236th Medical Company and the 50th Medical Company. Both high-risk missions missions performed with skill and courage. Several other nominations were also considered. Though not chosen, they also represent the courage, skill and willingness to go into harm’s way to rescue and evacuate their fellow comrades in arms or injured or sick civilians.

The crewmembers of the 236th Medical Company (AA) Rescue of the Year crew were pilot-in-command, CW3 William Fisher; co-pilot, CW2 Daniel Adams/1LT Christopher Howard; medic, SGT Luis Rodriguez Jr.; and crew chief, SPC Andrew Beckler.

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Heroes of the Vietnam Generation

by James Webb, former Secretary of the Navy, novelist and retired Marine officer (edited)

THE RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING cohort of Americans who endured the Great Depression and then fought World War II is receiving quite a send-off from the leading lights of the so-called ’60s generation. Tom Brokaw has published two oral histories of "the greatest generation" that feature ordinary people doing their duty and suggest that such conduct was historically unique. Chris Matthews of "Hardball" is fond of writing columns praising the Navy service of his father, while castigating his own baby-boomer generation for its alleged softness and lack of struggle. William Bennett gave a startlingly condescending speech at the Naval Academy a few years ago, comparing the heroism of the "D-Day Generation" to the drugs-and-sex nihilism of the "Woodstock Generation." Steven Spielberg, promoting his film "Saving Private Ryan," was careful to justify his portrayals of soldiers in action based on the supposedly unique nature of World War II.

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