This is the first newsletter for the RETIRED AIRBORNE RIGGER REUNION to be held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2010. Guess who the first Rigger Veteran was to get his $100.00 in to me. L/Gen Richard E. Seitz, 90 years old. That is a big ATTA-BOY for you SIR. It will still be $100.00 per person and that will get you all the standard "goodies" as before at previous reunions. Exact dates are to be announced AT A LATER DATE. Get me your money on the books so I can start earning some interest on a CD I am fixing to purchase. This will be a very expensive place because of the bus cost. We'll be having the Saturday night supper in the Fort Bragg Officer Club and if you were with us before in 1995 and 2000 the food was very good. We will be touring various units on Post as before and all the moving about will be by civilian bus. I truly hope that I can count on some of my BIG contributors that have stepped forward in the past to come forward with a healthy donation. I also need stamps, so how about dropping your check in the mail with 100 stamps.

Now I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a VERY MERRY XMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR COMING FOR 2009. Will be looking for your checks and stamps. Let’s get this rolling. We have a year PLUS to build and don’t lay back. If a $100.00 plus is going to break you then stay home. If you desire to partipate and see old friends then get your money on it NOW……..Clear Skies Warren D-8042

--- THINGS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW---

• Received word today that Mrs Jean Gregor, wife of CPT Don Gregor had died from Ovarian Cancer. Cpt Gregor and Jean was with us in the 1^st Special Forces in Okinawa back in the late 60’s. CPT Gregor was the Rigger Platoon Leader. They had lived in Hickory, NC for over 30 plus years and been married for over 50 years plus. Jean will be missed.
• Received word that my young trooper from years past CW3 Tim Skinner had developed blood clots in his right lung. They put him in the hospital and placed him on coumaden for six (6) months. CW3 Skinner is only 53 years old. He is out of the hospital and doing fairly well.
• My dear old friend from the old days of the 549^th CSM Robert S. Oneal died at the UNC Chapel Hill Hospital after he was removed from life support after 21 days. CSM Oneal was 75 years. Honorary Pallbearers were SFC John E. Gagan. SSG Robert Carhuff. MSG Ronnie Deloach, MSG Ronald Winn, SMG James E. Schaffer and CW4 Roy L. Warren. CW4 Warren also did the Euology. CSM Oneal had been the 1ST/SGT of the 82d PM Co, 557^th QM Co and was Senior Instructor at the Airborne Department.
• 1SG Dale E. Worley died on 10^th October this year at his home here in Fayetteville, NC. 1SG Worley was 80 years old and had retired with 30 years service. 1sg Worley was the 1^st Sergeant of the 549^th under CPT Richard Graham.
• Spoke with SFC Henry McLaney and he told me that his wife’s sister had died in August, Mrs Mildred Louise Pardue age 80. Sfc McLaney said that him and the wife are doing great and are looking forward to the reunion in 2010 here at Bragg.
• They had a very nice article in the Fayetteville Observer about my mentor from many many years ago CSM Lester C. McLaney. I called his brother Henry to inform him of the article. The article is attached. I still stop by every so often to visit CSM McLaney's grave site when I am visiting my old buddy SFC Larry Touchton and his wife and my own first wife and son.
• You guys remember LTC Jim Emery? He at one time Commanded the 549^th for a short time. Well at age 72 and after having two artificial hips and quadruple bypass he is out running in the Fort Lee Oktoberfest 10k run and finished first in the over 70 plus group in less than 60 minutes…."GO JIM"
• Received a call from the son of MSG Phillip S. Salzwedel stating that his father had died in a skilled nursing home here in Southern Pines, NC. He would have been 71 years old on the 11^th November. MSG Salzwedel had been in poor health for several years and was never able to attend a reunion. We were all in the 82d Abn QM Co in the late 50’s and early 60’s.MSG Salzwedel had been in this nursing home since 18 August. His lovely wife Carolyn had preceded him in death in 2004. MSG Salzwedel transferred to Special Forces in the early 60’s and made most of his rank in SF. I received a note from a former Special Forces "Delta Ranger" that MSG Salzwedel had served with him in combat. He had this to say, "I served with Phillip Salzwedel in the Project Delta Ranger Section from February 1968 to March 1968 when he was med evaced to CONUS for his second wound received on Operation Samurai IV. He was wounded in the left arm at the same time Little Jay Jackson was wounded (DOW) the evening before we ambushed the trucks. As you know, we returned to the same LZA about a week later. Salzwedel was wounded in his right elbow when the Marine CH46 we were inserting in was "shot off" when on short final approach. The pilot refused to go around for another approach and he recovered to Phu Bai strip where we deposited Salzwedel at Pad Alpha, the Marine med evac pad. Three rangers were also wounded on that chopper. Salzwedel was sent directly to Japan and finally to the States. I deeply regret that I have not seen him since I wished him well at Pad Alpha forty years ago. Phillip Salzwedel was a solid Special Forces soldier. He faced every task head on, usually with a grin. I saw him wounded twice. I never heard him complain. He tended and encouraged Jackson through the long night of Jackson’s death. May God smile upon Phillip Salzwedel. He was a good man." This was from Tom Humphus.
• Received a check from Maj Lee and Jan Marie Dunlap down in sunny Florida. Maj Dunlap said he was looking forward to seeing good ole Fort Bragg in 2010
• Finally got the complete story on CSM Wally Gurden. His first wife Marie passed away a little over two (2) years ago from lung cancer (age 70) and while he was visiting down in Florida he met and married a young lady by the name of Mary Dempsey who would you believe used to be a professional bowler on the PBA Tour. Look forward to seeing them here in Bragg in 2010