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"Here's to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking....
- If you cheat, may you cheat death - If you steal, may you steal a woman's heart - If you fight, may you fight for a brother - And if you drink, may you drink with me!" |
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Newly Elected President, John Vislosky
What's Hot
WHAT
Meeting's
Meeting's
WHO
Membership and Guests
Membership and Guests
WHEN
May 17, 18 2025
May 17, 18 2025
WHERE
Orange Blossom Hills Country Club, located at 1542 Water Tower Cir, Lady Lake, Florida 32159 in the Villages.
Orange Blossom Hills Country Club, located at 1542 Water Tower Cir, Lady Lake, Florida 32159 in the Villages.
Christmas Party and Year End Meeting 6-8 December 2024
What can I say.... We had a great time! Attendees in the hospitality room and at the luncheon meeting included: Suzie Gaspard, John & Anna Fryer, JD and Shirley Bath, John and Gayle Erskine, Jim Day, Richard and Sheila Whitman, John Johanson, Bob and Janet Johansen, John and Sharon Haralson, Sue Micelli, Don and Diana Augustin, Jimmy Summerhill, Bill Schulz and John and Betty Vislosky.
Below is a montage of all the Proper Villains in attendance:
What can I say.... We had a great time! Attendees in the hospitality room and at the luncheon meeting included: Suzie Gaspard, John & Anna Fryer, JD and Shirley Bath, John and Gayle Erskine, Jim Day, Richard and Sheila Whitman, John Johanson, Bob and Janet Johansen, John and Sharon Haralson, Sue Micelli, Don and Diana Augustin, Jimmy Summerhill, Bill Schulz and John and Betty Vislosky.
Below is a montage of all the Proper Villains in attendance:
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CHAPTER EVENTS
Upcoming SFA & SOA Events 2025
9 Aug 2025: B-2/11 SFG (ABN) Reunion (TENTATIVE), Rachel’s Restaurant, 54 Westchester Dr, Youngstown, Ohio. LEARN MORE WEBSITE
18-22 Aug 2025: 1st SFG(A) Reunion, Helena, MT. Delta Hotels Helena Colonial, 2301 Colonial Dr, Helena, MT
59601.
Activity Brochure Register Here
11-14 Sep 2025: Det "A" Berlin Get Together (any SF Brothers in the AO are invited), Comfort Suites Greenville Airport. BROCHURE
20-27 Sep 2025: 5th Group Annual Reunion. No details yet, but SFA Chapter 38 sponsors the event in Clarksville, TN.
13-16 Oct 2025: SOAR, Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
14-17 Oct 2025: SFACON 2025, Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV WEBSITE
17-20 November 2025: 2025 Modern Warfare Week – Fort Bragg, Global SOF Foundation WEBSITE
Click on event for detailed information
- Ginny Billingsley: Lisa Curtice wrote to me about her mother Ginny Billingsley: Currently she has been moved to a nursing home and has transitioned to Hospice care. I do not believe I will be able to bring her to any more meetings, or weekends, as she needs more care than I can provide. Please let everyone know how very much she loved getting to see everyone, especially after Dad
- passed. She misses everyone and hopes that everyone is doing as well as the can. If anyone asks, she can be reached at her number, 386-295-5881.
- Phil and Joette Devon. Phil is doing better and continues to fight the good fight. Prayers continue.
- Ray and Judy Drewry: Please keep both Ray and Judy in your thoughts and prayers.
- Sheila Whitman: Please provide prayers.
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Please notify any of the Chapter Officers of any illness, or misfortune of any of our members/spouses/families.
Taps
Recent Deaths of Chapter XXI Members, or Family Member's
March 14, 2025 (Age 78)
Huntsville, Alabama
Special Forces & MACV-SOG
SOA Mem# 1039
SFA Chapter 21, Mem# M-1086
Retired Colonel Rodney D. Burns, age 78, recently of Huntsville, AL, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 14, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He was born on September 18, 1946, in Lakeview, MI, to Milton Eugene Burns and Martha Carolyn Fleck Burns of Six Lakes, MI, and subsequently grew up in Breckenridge, MI. Rod dedicated his life to service, both in the military and to his family and friends.
A true patriot and leader, he was a respected member of the United States Armed Forces for 27 years. Rod served with distinction as an Operations officer in the 25th Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Division, 1st Battalion Commander of the 11th Infantry Division, San Antonio District Recruiting Command, Headquarters U.S. Army Combined Arms Center in Ft. Leavenworth, KS, 101st Infantry Division, including a tour with the Special Forces 5th, 7th, and 10th Airborne Divisions, and Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) during the Vietnam War. He served as commander of Joint Security at the United Nations Command Security Force in Pan Mun Jom, Korea; he was the commander of CENTCOM at MacDill Air Force Base, FL; he created and implemented the United States Central Command Emergency Action Survey Team, caring for the USAR families in Greensburg, PA, affected during the Gulf War, and was thereby distinguished by meritorious service as the lead planner and major contributor to several real-world crisis action planning groups, and developed a vitally important, compartmented plan for the United States Central Command; and he was commander of the 99th U.S. Army Command Center at the Charles E. Kelly Support Facility in Oakdale, PA. Throughout his career, Col. Burns received numerous awards and commendations, such as the Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, and the Superior Unit Award, along with many more.
Upon retiring from the U.S. Armed Forces, Rod worked as a Timber coordinator for the Miller Amish Lumber Co. out of Punxsutawney, PA, was a project manager for an oil company based out of Thailand, and drove a school bus for Bethlehem Center School District, PA, for 14 years, before retiring in Dunnellon, FL. He also continued as a club member of the VA, the VFW, the American Legion, and the Special Forces Chapter 21.
Most Significantly, Rod was a devoted husband to Karen Manson Burns and a cherished father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered most for his wisdom, fierce devotion, and outpouring of love. Rod is survived by his wife of 51 years, Karen Burns, his son, Clif Burns (Kim), and two daughters, Michaelle Hollingsworth (Tracy), and Kira Broadwater (Paul), as well as his sister, Carolyn Dombroske (Mark), 8 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Milt and Martha Burns, and his brother, Allan Burns.
Military honors will be rendered at the graveside in Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga, TN, on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM. A Memorial Service will also be held at West Huntsville Baptist Church on Monday, March 31, 2025, at 10:30 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Forces Association [https://www.specialforcesassociation.org/donate/]
or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Rod's memory [http://fundraising.stjude.org/goto/Fortheserviceloveandsacrificeofasoldier].
SOURCE: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/huntsville/name/rodney-burns-obituary?id=57932263
ALL THE WAY
THEN
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HALO
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NOW
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Old Soldiers Never Die
There is an old cookhouse, far far away
Where we get pork and beans, three times a day
Beefsteak we never see, damn-all sugar for our tea
And we are gradually fading away.
Old soldiers never die,
Old soldiers never die
They just fade away.
Privates they love their
beer, 'most every day.
Corporals, they love their stripes, that's what they say.
Sergeants they love to drill. Guess them bastards always will
So we drill and drill until we fade away.
Special Forces Soldier
I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.
I ask nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accept the thought of eternal loneliness... should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror; felt the stinging cold of fear; and enjoyed.
I have cried, pained, and hoped, but most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least someday I will be able to say I was proud of what I was...
A Special forces Soldier.
George Skypeck
There is an old cookhouse, far far away
Where we get pork and beans, three times a day
Beefsteak we never see, damn-all sugar for our tea
And we are gradually fading away.
Old soldiers never die,
Old soldiers never die
They just fade away.
Privates they love their
beer, 'most every day.
Corporals, they love their stripes, that's what they say.
Sergeants they love to drill. Guess them bastards always will
So we drill and drill until we fade away.
Special Forces Soldier
I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.
I ask nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accept the thought of eternal loneliness... should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror; felt the stinging cold of fear; and enjoyed.
I have cried, pained, and hoped, but most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least someday I will be able to say I was proud of what I was...
A Special forces Soldier.
George Skypeck
A point to ponder
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