You’ve probably seen advertisements for the 3rd Annual Warriors on the Water Color Run/Walk around town. The run/walk is scheduled for June 1, 2024. Although I’ve heard about Montana Warriors on the Water (MWOTW) and worked with them for the Women Veterans event earlier this month, I wanted to learn more about the organization. MWOTW is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. It consists of local sportsmen and women, veterans of the United States military.
Their mission is to provide veterans with support and fellowship through outdoor recreational activities. The aim is to offer a relaxing environment where veterans can connect. The MWOTW was started in 2015 with the assistance of the Montana Walleyes Unlimited organization. This organization is dedicated to replacing difficult memories with positive and inspiring ones. MWOTW currently has 12 Board members, 12 advisory board members, and nearly 100 volunteers. Since the organization began, it has hosted 150 vets. Military veterans can apply for an annual, all-expenses-paid weeklong fishing trip on Fort Peck Lake. The Board of Directors reviews applications and selects veterans based on their ability to attend fishing events throughout the year. Donations and fundraisers are fundamental to the organization. Donations provide funding for deer and elk hunts and smaller fishing trips. MWOTW does a cow elk hunt for four vets every fall and their big fishing trip in July, where they usually take 14 to 17 veterans, depending on the year. This year, they will be hosting 16 veterans. The MWOTW pledges to use donations to further its mission of assisting veterans. Billy and JoAnn Hoverson are the points of contact in Miles City. [email protected] www.montanawarriorsonthewater.com www.facebook.com/mwotw
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The Veterans Administration (VA) has several home and community-based services for eligible Veterans and their caregivers. There is a Veterans Decision Aid tool located on the VA’s website which assists the veterans in determining which services best meets their requirements now or in the future https://www.caregiver.va.gov/Care_Veterans.asp
Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) is one such program. The program assists by delivering routine health care services to the Veterans home. This service is used when the veteran has medical issues making it challenging for them to travel. https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/pages/Home_Based_Primary_Care.asp If the veteran is in the advanced stages of a terminal disease the Home Hospice Care can offer supportive services for both the caregiver and the veteran. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service also offers grief counseling to the immediate family. https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/pages/Hospice_Care.asp Homemaker and Home Health Aides is a program designed to help the veteran with any type of personal needs. The service will help with bathing and feeding among other things. https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/pages/Homemaker_and_Home_Health_Aide_Care.asp Home Telehealth uses technology like computers and phones to contact the VA medical centers, alleviating the need to go in for a physical doctor’s appointment. https://telehealth.va.gov/type/home Remote Monitoring Care allows the VA to monitor the veterans remotely using home monitoring equipment. https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/pages/Telehealth.asp Skilled Home Care has medical professionals going to the veteran’s home to help care for the homebound veteran. The program is similar to Home-Based Primary care, except the care is provided by a licensed non-VA medical professional. https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/pages/Skilled_Home_Health
Operation Desert Storm began in early August 1990 when Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, a neighboring country, The United Nations Security Council promptly demanded Hussein’s withdrawal from Kuwait, but when he ignored the orders, Arab nations appealed to the United States and other Western nations for intervention. The operation kicked off with a massive U.S.-led air offensive on January 17, 1991, effectively crippling the Iraqi air force. Coalition forces then shifted their focus to ground attacks. Operation Desert Sabre, launched on February 24, 1991. Operation Desert Sabre was a large, allied ground offensive. In four days, the coalition forces liberated Kuwait. President George H. Bush called for a ceasefire on February 28, effectively ending the Persian Gulf War. The U.S. Navy had already positioned ships in the region with Joint Task Force Middle East ships placed on alert. Using one of the larges strategic sealifts in history, over 240 ships transported more than 18.3 billion pounds of equipment and supplies to the areas. With amphibious forces stationed in the Arabian Gulf, the allies were able to efficiently navigate Iraqi defenses and conduct their mission. This week we salute Erik Fritz. Originally from Medora North Dakota, Erik moved to Forsyth in 1995. He served four years in the U.S. Navy from 1988 to 1992. He went to basic training in Orlando Florida. Erik’s military occupational specialty was 3905, an intelligence specialist. He served with the commanders second fleet. During Desert Storm, he was attached to the 27th Marine Expeditionary unit. He was the only sailor attached to the unit that was not a Medical Corpsman. Erik has been a bladesmith since 2004. The American Bladesmith Society classifies Erik as journeyman bladesmith. He is married to Alicia, and they have three children. Early in 1967, the U.S. Army’s 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division joined forces with the Navy’s Mobile Riverine Forces (MRF). On June 19, 1967, the Army and the Navy launched their first joint operation, code name Concordia I. The objective was to capture a large enemy redoubt that was providing training and shelter for the Vietcong in the Can Giuoc District in the Mekong Delta. The operation called for five companies of the 47th Infantry Regiment, 3 from the 4/47th Infantry and 2 from the 3/47th Infantry. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 2/46 Infantry was also a part of the operation.
Company C 3/47th received a report that there was a Battalion size Vietcong force located east of Ap Bac. Company C 4/47th Infantry moved to the northeast by patrol craft. Company C 3/47 did not find any Vietcong, but Company C 4/47 encountered Vietcong positions as they were moving west. Company A 4/47th Infantry was moving south towards Company C 4/47th. Company A had been walking through the rice paddies to save time when they walked into an L-shaped ambush. The Vietcong were well entrenched. Caught in the crossfire, there was no place to hide. Sadly, 47 U.S. forces were killed in action; 41 from 4th Battalion. Some report indicates 46 killed and 15 sailors wounded. Of the 41 KIA,, 27 were from Company A 4/47, 11 from Company B 4/47, 3 from Company C 4/47.and 3 from Companies B and C 3/47th. Artillery and air support couldn’t be used until noon, two hours later, due to the confusion over the location. Then helicopter gunship and artillery fire began to supplement the fire from small arms and nearby patrol craft. The MRF unleashed 20mm and 40mm cannon fire as well as .30 caliber and .50 caliber rounds into the Vietcong positions. It wasn’t until after dark that the U.S. casualties were able to be evacuated. That day 4 MEDEVAC helicopters were shot down and four medics from the 4/47 were killed in action. Although the MRF failed to block the enemy’s escape, over 255 Vietcong soldiers were killed. The Battle of Ap Bac, often referred to Ap Bac II or simply June 19th is a scar on the souls of the men of the 47th Infantry Regiment. This week we salute Cliff Locke. Cliff served in the U.S. Navy. Before deploying to Vietnam, Cliff trained in Coronado, one of the first sailors to be assigned there. While there he trained the Marines. Cliff also received Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training, going through a rigorous survival and escape training program. He was deployed to and stationed in South Vietnam from January 1967 to 1968. Cliff was a deckhand, a 3rd Bosum mate. Bosun’s mates are responsible for training and supervision of all deck crew in matters related to deck maintenance, watch standing, and deck operations. He was part of a Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) who lived on a barge patrolling the rivers of Vietnam. After military service, Cliff worked 30 years for the railroad. He retired in 2004 from Burlington railroad. Although not a native Montanan, he stayed in Rosebud county after retirement. Women have served in military roles although not officially considered in the military as far back as the Revolutionary War. It wasn’t until WWI that women were officially allowed to serve in the military. In 1948 President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Women’s Armed Services integration act enabling women to serve a full-fledged member of the Armed Forces.
Women have played a crucial role in the military throughout history, often facing unique challenges and obstacles. Despite these challenges, women have persevered and made significant contributions to the defense of our country. It is important to recognize and honor the sacrifices and achievements of female veterans, both past and present. More than 2 million women veterans live in the United States. In 2000, the women veteran population was 4% estimated to grow to 18% in 2040. Montana women veterans make up 9.3 % of total women veterans in the United States. To all the female veterans in Rosebud County and beyond, thank you for your service and dedication to our country. Your contributions are truly appreciated and will never be forgotten. The American Legion Montana is hosting a woman veterans symposium on May 4th, 2024, in Laurel, Montana. The symposium will feature representatives from the Montana Veterans Administration (VA) who will provide information regarding mental and physical issues. Veteran Service Officers will work with Veteran on filing disability claims. There will be guest speakers engaging on women veteran centric issues. We want to empower women and ensure they find the connections they may need. The symposium will be at the American Legion post in Laurel, Montana at Riverside Park. The address is 123 Riverside Park, South Hwy 212, Laurel, Montana. Registration begins at 8 and the event starts at 9 o’clock. There will be breakout sessions as well as vendors. Lunch will be provided. If you are a woman veteran in the area or know someone who is, please spread the word about this event. It's a great opportunity to connect with other women veterans, learn about resources available to you, and get the support you may need. Let's come together to honor and support our women veterans who have served our country bravely. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Hope to see you at the symposium on May 4th! The United States involvement in the Vietnam war began in 1954, when the U.S. began providing support and funding for armaments and training to the South Vietnamese government and military. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed to the war by sending in U.S. troops to Vietnam to fight communism. After President Kennedy’s assignation, Lyndon B. Johnson became president and continued sending U.S. troops to Vietnam. During his first year in office, he sent over 23,000 troops. By the late 1960’s, the American public’s hostility to the war and the soldier returning home from war was dreadful The Vietnam war was the first war to have constant media attention. The media was showing alleged atrocities being committed by military personnel and the rampant drug use by some soldiers and the American public began to associate the horrors of war with the soldiers returning home. Soldiers were spit on, called baby killers and other disgusting names. The U.S. started withdrawing troops in 1974. The official end of the war was 1975. For many years, Vietnam veterans refused to talk about their time in service in large part to how they were treated by the American public. This past month, on Friday, March 29, Montana held a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans ceremony. Although fifty years too late for many veterans, the ceremony was a start to healing the mental wounds of many Vietnam veterans. In Montana there are over 36,000 Montanans who served during the Vietnam War, 264 from Rosebud County. This week we salute all the Rosebud County Vietnam veterans. From one veteran to another, Thank you for your service.
A Rigel-class stores ship, the USS Vega (AF-59) was laid down on June 7, 1954, and launched on April 28, 1955. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Theodore C. Lonnquest and commissioned on November 10, 1955. It is the third ship to be named Vega. Off the coast of Vietnam, the USS Vega participated in Fleet operation from October 1964 to January 1965. The ship returned to the United States in February 1965. By the late Spring, the USS Vega was back patrolling the Vietnamese waters supporting the 7th Fleet units. USS Vega conducted 125 underway and 26 in port replenishments. This number of replenishments was more than any other deployment. The ship visited Danang and An Thoi, Vietnam as well as the first time in Singapore. In 1971, the supply ship conducted two operations in the sea lanes off Vietnam. Over 100 tons of food were transferred to troops on the ground during some of the worst weather conditions. USS Vega was involved in the evacuation of Cambodian refugees, supporting the task group with replenishment operations. The ship was decommissioned on April 29, 1977.
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