If you'd like to have
your reunion photos included, send them to
photo@dustoff.org. Please label who the folks are in the photo and from what year reunion they are.
Saturday Professional Meeting was well attended – a
video was provide by Pat Fries of Arrowhead films of the 57th inactivation –
what a great show – sad – but great –
http://www.arrowheadfilms.com/57th.html
The business meeting adopted several items for work:
1. Egor’s proposals were adopted – so we are going to begin to work on some
linkages with the new “Charlie” companies to like them to their “lineage” –
we will also begin to work on an educational brochure to inform new members
what a DUSTOFF Unit does and what the history and lineage means to them – we
will try to figure out how to help retain the call-sign DUSTOFF as well.
2. We began our “repay” program – we need about 75 men with $100 – this will
repay our savings for money spent to start the Scholarship and to provide
coins for returning units – I got $1,050 from the first ten men/women with
$100 –
3. We passed the resolution to change to “ALL Life Membership” – there will
be no more annual dues paying memberships – a new version of the
constitution will be out shortly
4. We elected LTC Bob Mitchell as our next VP – he is on this email string.
We did NOT elect a secretary – there were no nominees nor volunteers. (this
is NOT good)
The Awards ceremony was one of the most moving and memorable I have ever
participated in. What a great group of winners – these soldiers we honored
are the best America has to offer – they were articulate, humble and proud
DUSTOFFers. Germany flew the 159th winners in and Fort Hood provided funds
for the C-2/4 folks (old 507th) – Judy Craig the widow of SSG Heathe Craig
accepted the trophy on behalf of her husband who was killed in Afghanistan –
MAJ Rob Howe spoke on her behalf. Mike Novosel Jr. did a great job
introducing Jason DiDonato our first Aviator of the Year – and Jason simply
“nailed” with his three reasons why he returned to Iraq after taking a
50-cal round through the chest – And Egor did a marvelous job accepting his
induction into the Hall of Fame. It was a great day.
The dinner/dance was fun and lively and the One-man Band was totally
entertaining. Thanks Joe Madrano for fixing that up.
We raised over $1250 during the raffle – after expenses we have $1000 to add
to our memorials/scholarship funds.
