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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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